tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88412668408006707722024-03-05T08:21:06.217+00:00The Blog-ical FlaskMy concoction of science, books, museums and moreAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-77450015459107049262017-06-03T20:25:00.000+01:002017-06-03T20:25:09.199+01:00Sickle cells can't have funSickle cell disease (SCD) affects about 15,000 people in the UK.<br />
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A mutation in the haemoglobin gene causes the red blood cells to change shape. They get stuck and block the blood vessels causing anaemia and intense pain.<br />
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Would you like to know more?<br />
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The <a href="http://www.sicklecellsociety.org/">Sickle Cell Society</a>'s website has up to date information including the latest research, available tests and current treatments. The Society also publishes special booklets for children and young people.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-41769047287658029752017-04-11T11:02:00.000+01:002017-04-11T11:02:39.498+01:00The Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week I visited the <a href="http://www.donkeyrescue.co.uk/">Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is a haven for rescued donkeys and a few other animals. I
looked around the stables and the fields, stroked some of them and took lovely
pictures.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Before leaving I decided to give a donation, so I bought this book <b>Pollyanne: One
Little Donkey's Amazing Journey from the Knacker's Yard to the West End Stage</b> from the shop. This is the story of one of the donkeys and how she was
rescued by the Sanctuary founder and manager John McLaren. To my surprise John
was there and sold me the book. He even signed it for me!<o:p></o:p><br />
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The story of John and Pollyanne is wonderful. I recommend
reading the book and of course visiting the Sanctuary. You can help in various
ways, like adopting a donkey for £15, buying something from the shop, volunteering, and even bringing carrots and apples for the donkeys.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-58685919913581788552017-03-05T18:59:00.000+00:002017-03-06T10:15:06.352+00:00Japanese Tea Ceremony in Oxford<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I went to the <a href="http://www.ashmolean.org/">Ashmolean museum of Art and Archaeology</a> in
Oxford to a demonstration of the Japanese Tea Ceremony (<i>chanoyu</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Clare Pollard</u>, curator of Japanese art, gave us a brief talk
about the history of tea and the origins of the ceremony. “Even though we call
it ceremony, it doesn’t have anything to do with religion”, Clare said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She described what happens during the ceremony and passed
around a few of the objects that are used so we could feel and admire them.
Then we headed to the museum’s own tea room where a group of Japanese
volunteers performed the preparation of the tea. We all got a bowl and were
instructed on how to drink from it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is what I learned about the Japanese tea ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">History</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tea was brought to Japan from China, where it was first used
as medicine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Chinese Schools of
Tea</u>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Boiled tea (Tang dynasty), consisted of
boiling cakes made of tea leaves.</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Whipped tea (Sung dynasty) is what the
Japanese still drink in the tea ceremony. The tea is pulverised and whipped in
hot water with a split bamboo whisk.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Steeped tea (Ming dynasty) is the tea as most
of us know it. The tea leaves are immersed in hot water.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once in Japan, <u>Zen monks</u> started to drink it as part of one
of their rituals, where they drank out of a single bowl which was passed around.
It was then adopted by <u>samurai warriors</u> and spread throughout different groups of
the population. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">During the 15<sup>th</sup> century the ritual became the <i>chanoyu</i>
(tea ceremony), which originated from the <u>Teaism</u>, the Philosophy of tea based
on respect for the beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBTzJUzf-Nw8ahqxaUmdnD6OUjHhPaHe-pIE7k0tzdX9eSLbA6kHBOWp4wV6V9NuZDerPieisN4MYM_S33nJ4c6giNQJsPkT257SuKWb9Jh4zixXiaM7pgn0zt9hlWbLbeQeh7hk4PgU/s1600/doors+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBTzJUzf-Nw8ahqxaUmdnD6OUjHhPaHe-pIE7k0tzdX9eSLbA6kHBOWp4wV6V9NuZDerPieisN4MYM_S33nJ4c6giNQJsPkT257SuKWb9Jh4zixXiaM7pgn0zt9hlWbLbeQeh7hk4PgU/s640/doors+pic.jpg" width="346" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">Then came <span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><u>Rikyū</u></span>,
considered the greatest of all tea masters, who created the first independent
tea room in the 16<sup>th</sup> century and introduced the <i>wabi chanoyu</i> (quiet simplicity
of the tea ceremony). He standardised the rules which included: proportions and
layout of the tea room, utensils, dress code, and formalities to be followed by
the tea master (host) and the guests (no more than five). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Rikyū</span>’s famous four principles of tea are: harmony,
reverence, purity and calmness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Tea room</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The tea rooms are built of natural materials like wood and
bamboo and can be either, a room within the house (<i>kakoi</i>), or an independent
room (<i>sukiya</i>). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The tea room’s two main doors are, the <i>katte-guchi</i>, leading to
the kitchen where the host comes out of, and a tiny door called <i>nijiri-agari</i> to
let the guests in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <i>mizuya</i> (kitchen) is where the host stores the utensils
and prepares them for the ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When guests arrive, they remove their shoes and place them by
a set of stones outside the <i>nijiri-agari</i>. Some tea houses also have a sword
rack where samurai warriors used to set their swords. Then, as a symbol of
humility, regardless of rank or position, all guests crawl in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once in, the guests are greeted by the sound of boiling
water from an iron kettle and the decorations arranged on a special place
called <i>tokonoma</i>. This is where the host displays a picture or poem of their
choice and a seasonal flower. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Cleanliness</u> is imperative in the tea room, as are <u>simplicity</u>
and <u>asymmetry</u>. These apply not only to the layout of the room but also to the
utensils. For example, the location of the objects and the shapes of the tea
bowls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Outside the tea room, there is always a garden and a garden
path called <i>roji</i>. The <i>roji</i> connects the tea room with the <i>machiai</i> where guests
wait to be called. They start coming in one by one following the garden path. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Before
reaching the tea room, all guests approach a water basin called <span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i>chōzubachi</i></span> where they bend to wash their hands. This is yet another
sign of humility. There are also stone lanterns which have different names
depending on their shapes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The main purpose of the <i>roji</i> is to help the guests achieve a
sense of isolation as they make their way to the tea room. When they get to the
entrance, they are ready to leave the stress of everyday life behind and
completely immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the ceremony. Clare
mentioned that it’s like having two personalities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tea utensils</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many utensils are used during the tea ceremony. The ones I
saw at the museum demonstration were the kettle, the lid rest (<i>futaoki</i>), the
fresh and waste water jars, the container for the powdered green tea (<i>natsume</i>),
the bamboo tea spoon (<i>chashaku</i>) and ladle (<i>hishaku</i>), the whisk (<i>chasen</i>) made of
split bamboo, and a range of tea bowls (<i>chawan</i>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was an amazing experience: I watched, touched and tasted! I can’t
recommend it enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you’d like to book a place this is the link to the
<a href="http://www.ashmolean.org/events/GalleryActivities/?id=130">Ashmolean museum gallery events</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you to the Ashmolean, Clare and the volunteers for a wonderful afternoon!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>References:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Ashmolean museum Japanese art galleries<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Clare Pollard, curator of Japanese art<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Book of Tea by Kakuzo Okakura</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Cha-No-Yu The Japanese Tea Ceremony by A.L. Sadler</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-70917089781239343902017-02-19T16:22:00.000+00:002017-02-19T16:22:05.531+00:00Lab bench to Office desk<span style="font-size: x-large;">One year ago I started a job in Research Administration. Having worked in a lab for my science degrees and then as a researcher, it was a big change. I thought it might be fun to illustrate the differences that I’ve found between working in a lab and working in an office:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">DRESS CODE</span></b></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCRc3QPllu82tJkei_PIJy-gjlvJuMoGLy28WdQfA8y6X9dq-AZc2dC36epDdYCJjhMtKg8MhNiyyoAYDjYqqWMBzkA2yCnCcUK2YTddTKEE7ypHssAJ5_q6yAVM7JXwg5FeJPXd-Kd8/s1600/dresscode.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCRc3QPllu82tJkei_PIJy-gjlvJuMoGLy28WdQfA8y6X9dq-AZc2dC36epDdYCJjhMtKg8MhNiyyoAYDjYqqWMBzkA2yCnCcUK2YTddTKEE7ypHssAJ5_q6yAVM7JXwg5FeJPXd-Kd8/s640/dresscode.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">WORKING TOOLS</span></b></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxIynnmsWVd1xMKjLYbDCTuPBbzqLDxgIUOIoasvKmLn2hyQjNxfYm43-8_Ml6pHpz2RZEohBixDZMtXIpT0uCbSOht1qnwVmy8ZtpYG0Vtmr2sIMqHCM0t1Ly7c5wawdqwTYzuMlsb4/s1600/tools.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxIynnmsWVd1xMKjLYbDCTuPBbzqLDxgIUOIoasvKmLn2hyQjNxfYm43-8_Ml6pHpz2RZEohBixDZMtXIpT0uCbSOht1qnwVmy8ZtpYG0Vtmr2sIMqHCM0t1Ly7c5wawdqwTYzuMlsb4/s640/tools.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">MEETINGS</span></b></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7DyWXosVQTjZMPOTqjJZETw66sQi-MzmeSFTejZiTe6ywcxl2PIq4UU83yeL0lisH0dfZAMz7Lp7AAs2DkXocq4iMr0F11wzlS17VRuP8rUEsrf4Fazo21nPXVix4VrbEi0a22gQzng/s1600/meetings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7DyWXosVQTjZMPOTqjJZETw66sQi-MzmeSFTejZiTe6ywcxl2PIq4UU83yeL0lisH0dfZAMz7Lp7AAs2DkXocq4iMr0F11wzlS17VRuP8rUEsrf4Fazo21nPXVix4VrbEi0a22gQzng/s640/meetings.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">LUNCH BREAK</span></b></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRggTk1tsZBhxf-c1_m89wyoQ6dBqI1UrH-kZX2NKDcQEAVEXu_FOgyh9YpR5Cs3beOcUmWm8L-kOQVMQr2ckJb9nwMDY-E46ci3tcRuhlIrMDLGeo7OaLm16gHannVXM_TPIKA6SMr4/s1600/lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRggTk1tsZBhxf-c1_m89wyoQ6dBqI1UrH-kZX2NKDcQEAVEXu_FOgyh9YpR5Cs3beOcUmWm8L-kOQVMQr2ckJb9nwMDY-E46ci3tcRuhlIrMDLGeo7OaLm16gHannVXM_TPIKA6SMr4/s640/lunch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-51017904941665646482016-06-19T18:30:00.000+01:002016-06-19T18:37:54.328+01:00Love at first sight: Why I fell in love with Gladstone's Library<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><a href="https://www.gladstoneslibrary.org/accommodation/sleeping-with-books"><b>Sleeping with books</b></a></i>.
This is how I first learned about <a href="https://www.gladstoneslibrary.org/"><b>Gladstone’s Library</b></a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being a bookworm I could
not miss the opportunity to visit such a wonderful place. I went for a <a href="https://www.gladstoneslibrary.org/reading-rooms/glimpses-and-guided-tours">Glimpse tour</a> of the <a href="https://www.gladstoneslibrary.org/reading-rooms/reading-rooms"><b>Reading Rooms</b></a>: 15 minutes
of bliss where I was allowed not only to look around but also to take books off
the shelves!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The <a href="https://www.gladstoneslibrary.org/reading-rooms/library-collections"><b>collections</b></a> include mostly books about the Humanities,
like Religion, Politics, Literature, and History. I was amazed to see the Bible
in so many different languages. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.gladstoneslibrary.org/reading-rooms/library-collections/distinctive-collections/gladstone-foundation-collection"><b>Gladstone’s</b> very own <b>books</b></a> are also part of the collection.
Most interesting to me was to find that some of his books were about Religion
and Science. I even discovered three volumes of Charles Darwin’s Letters!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would have loved to have more time to browse the
collection and keep unlocking its secrets. Maybe one day…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few days later, a letter came in the post thanking me for
my donation. Tiny details like these are also part of what makes this place so special.
Thank you Katharine Easterby for this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The perfect atmosphere for writing and reading. Whether you
are a bookworm or not, this is a place not to be missed.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1466357095623!6m8!1m7!1sF%3A-WmSrk2veBFI%2FV2bUUUgwthI%2FAAAAAAAAo90%2FtmtjEVBlvaU-Ksutg8759bq4he8Q03kewCLIB!2m2!1d53.185724!2d-3.027367!3f11.901851077815326!4f3.968871214220698!5f0.4000000000000002" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
An interactive 360 degree view from outside Gladstone's Library. Click, drag and explore!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-6033195469266560052016-06-19T15:05:00.000+01:002016-06-19T18:49:54.381+01:00Hearing from the experts in Ovarian Cancer<div class="MsoNormal">
On Tuesday I attended the “<b><a href="http://www.targetovariancancer.org.uk/events/support/science-theory-and-advances-ovarian-cancer-ask-experts-conference">Ask the experts</a>”</b> conference organised by <b>Target Ovarian Cancer</b>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3r9efUJhCc8oAKBjUFWZSJcakGlYy8lkkfDu5lOVw5XvyFGG4uaaJHIZomzWWNT4-d2zwwtU2h7K9vu2pnF5bQNKYDoA-jxeUj6tcKdgKAo2KP6fFAJ2Oxrv49dBX83KhyabqFLGCgE/s1600/conf2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3r9efUJhCc8oAKBjUFWZSJcakGlYy8lkkfDu5lOVw5XvyFGG4uaaJHIZomzWWNT4-d2zwwtU2h7K9vu2pnF5bQNKYDoA-jxeUj6tcKdgKAo2KP6fFAJ2Oxrv49dBX83KhyabqFLGCgE/s640/conf2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Topics</b> covered:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li> Familial risk of
ovarian cancer</li>
<li> Improvements in
diagnosis of ovarian cancer</li>
<li> Advances in
surgery</li>
<li> Targeted
treatments</li>
<li> Public policy</li>
<li> The role of a Research Advocate</li>
<li> Living well with
ovarian cancer</li>
<li> The Target
Ovarian Cancer Research Programme</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I learned a lot form all the talks, however, I found the
following sessions particularly interesting:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>LIVING WELL WITH OVARIAN CANCER</u><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to <b><a href="http://www.pennybrohn.org.uk/">PennyBrohn UK</a></b> this is not rocket science. There are very easy things you can do
to <b>boost your immune system</b> and live better, whether you suffer from cancer or
not:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li> Exercise regularly</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Manage your
levels of stress</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Do activities you
enjoy</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Keep a healthy
diet</li>
</ul>
<br />
<o:p></o:p>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Below is a
picture of the ideal <b>Penny Brohn’s healthy eating plate</b>. Note its particular
features:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li> Variety
and colour </li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li> Natural
whole foods </li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li> Plant
based with some animal products </li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li> Herbs
& spices</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabrNM9DQol7TxZLDPR0lG9Kz70zaIQyaKiTNIFJ_MRQ7onRREbEANunFwezYWzSNf4V04l-boDz2MN-XXtDqWpBLl6heBTuUplIv9TwR0FTfv5ZopVkUdFE4qo_baz-4d8V1ymytGHD0/s1600/plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabrNM9DQol7TxZLDPR0lG9Kz70zaIQyaKiTNIFJ_MRQ7onRREbEANunFwezYWzSNf4V04l-boDz2MN-XXtDqWpBLl6heBTuUplIv9TwR0FTfv5ZopVkUdFE4qo_baz-4d8V1ymytGHD0/s640/plate.jpg" width="602" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>THE ROLE OF A RESEARCH ADVOCATE</u><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Justin Champagne talked to us about Target Ovarian Cancer’s <b><a href="http://www.targetovariancancer.org.uk/our-research/get-involved/our-research-advocates">Research Advocates</a>. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This scheme relies on volunteers with a non-medical
background and a connection with ovarian cancer who advice on research and “translate”
it into plain English. Some of the activities of a research advocate are:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li> <b>Review research grant applications</b>: help to shortlist the
best candidates by becoming “lay reviewers”, and see the outputs of
successfully funded projects at universities like Oxford and Cambridge.</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li> <b>Review projects</b>: make sure projects are commented in lay
terms. For example the <b><a href="http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/projects/hta/131301">ROCkeTS</a> </b>(<u>R</u>efining
<u>O</u>varian <u>C</u>ancer <u>T</u>est Accuracy <u>S</u>cores) project led by
the <b>University of Birmingham</b>, intended to improve diagnosis of ovarian cancer.</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last part of this conference was about <b>Target Ovarian Cancer’s <a href="http://www.targetovariancancer.org.uk/ovarian-cancer-research">RESEARCH PROGRAMME</a></b> highlighting some of the projects they fund. The topics were absolutely
fascinating but the presentations were not at all tailored for the general
public.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I felt really sad when this lady turned to me and said “I
didn’t understand anything”. It was not surprising when during one of the talks
one member of the audience actually interrupted the speaker to say “I don’t
understand what you mean by <i>overexpression</i>“.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am a scientist, and during some of these talks I felt like
I was in a scientific conference! The slides showed figures that would
belong in a science paper with terminology that non-scientists would not
understand. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know how challenging it is to translate research into
plain English, but <b>PLEASE</b>,<b> make an
effort</b>! How frustrating it must be for people connected with cancer when
they go to events like this, hoping to learn about the new treatments and
leaving baffled and confused.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p>So I’d like to take this opportunity to urge all the <b>SCIENTISTS</b> out there to <b>DROP THE JARGON!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8BzevVnIXZVqTFjRCRfIpoWtHSVQo_HjeAfNa7A7BfRezJQuhsDDA88atKm2drc1bUQkJsuZaCf4zbohMtDVXK-KapCkwlvv2Umhcgb7a_4H79yXAwn6IAqi3bgzHVWWEGLzqZZIV4I/s1600/flyers2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8BzevVnIXZVqTFjRCRfIpoWtHSVQo_HjeAfNa7A7BfRezJQuhsDDA88atKm2drc1bUQkJsuZaCf4zbohMtDVXK-KapCkwlvv2Umhcgb7a_4H79yXAwn6IAqi3bgzHVWWEGLzqZZIV4I/s640/flyers2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>USEFUL LINKS</u><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Participate in <b><a href="http://www.brcaprotect.org/">The BRCA protect Research Clinic</a></b>. This programme, run by <b>UCL</b>, is trying to overcome the need of surgery by finding new ways of preventing breast and
ovarian cancer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span style="text-indent: -36pt;">Find if you
have increased cancer risk in your family with the </span><b style="text-indent: -36pt;"><a href="http://www.ubqo.com/cancergenetics">Cancer Genetics app</a> </b><span style="text-indent: -36pt;">developed by </span><b style="text-indent: -36pt;">G</b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; text-indent: -36pt;"><b>uy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust</b>.</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span style="text-indent: -36pt;">Record your
symptoms with the Target Ovarian Cancer</span><b style="text-indent: -36pt;"> <a href="http://www.targetovariancancer.org.uk/about-ovarian-cancer/what-ovarian-cancer/symptoms/ovarian-cancer-symptoms-diary">Symptoms
diary</a></b><a href="http://www.targetovariancancer.org.uk/about-ovarian-cancer/what-ovarian-cancer/symptoms/ovarian-cancer-symptoms-diary" style="text-indent: -36pt;"> <b>app</b></a><span style="text-indent: -36pt;">.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
Take part in the Target Ovarian Cancer<b> <a href="http://www.targetovariancancer.org.uk/our-campaigns/pathfinder-2016">Pathfinder 2016survey</a></b>, campaigning for increased awareness, higher survival and better
funding for ovarian cancer. Open for women with ovarian cancer, clinical nurses
caring for women with ovarian cancer, and family and friends of women with
ovarian cancer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
Visit the <b><a href="http://www.pennybrohn.org.uk/">Penny Brohn UK</a> </b>website to get information about their services and
courses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Read <b><a href="http://www.targetovariancancer.org.uk/news/day-life-reasearch-advocate">Justin’s blog post</a> </b>to find out what being a Research Advocate is
like and how you can become one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-1102223971779314392016-02-25T20:01:00.000+00:002016-02-25T20:01:09.456+00:00A successful Crowdfunding campaign<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Suddenly the wealth is not concentrated anymore. Suddenly
the society becomes more powerful” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Inspiring words from <a href="http://www.allstreet.org/allstreetplatform/about-us/our-team/"><b>Emanuela Vartolomei</b></a>, founder and CEO of
<a href="http://www.allstreet.org/allstreetplatform/"><b>All Street</b></a>, the first company to help individuals with Crowdfunding.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwtgp09wcUnCM5nx5DWFxU0NNxEydNcuYSTpMLf9mye4RTNv0yzbrUjji6OBLJikapOx8vpzI7chIysIgxw7dB1zj26TVpxhDd_CUXrocRfp6z01nxEWsIuLsfI-n9XWX__xXrDxv1xo/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwtgp09wcUnCM5nx5DWFxU0NNxEydNcuYSTpMLf9mye4RTNv0yzbrUjji6OBLJikapOx8vpzI7chIysIgxw7dB1zj26TVpxhDd_CUXrocRfp6z01nxEWsIuLsfI-n9XWX__xXrDxv1xo/s640/Picture1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was curious to know <b>what
makes a successful crowdfunding campaign</b>. So here are Emanuela’s tips:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: large;">Time<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You must set aside time for your crowdfunding enterprise. Preparation
should take about three months, then one or two months to run the campaign. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: large;">TEAM<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have a good core team is a must. You have to get on board collaborators who can bring the skills you lack, for example, someone to do the social media work, someone to deal with the legal aspects, etc.</span><br />
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<b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: large;">BUDGET<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have a realistic budget in place, including the salary for your core team. It takes a minimum of £10,000 to support a campaign. Bear in mind that you need to bring 30% of the funds before starting.</span><br />
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<b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: large;">SOCIAL MEDIA<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You need a sound social media marketing plan. An <b>AMAZING VIDEO</b> is <b>KEY</b> if you want to succeed, and so is the <b>CONSTANT UPDATING</b> of information via <b>Twitter</b> and other channels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And last but not least...</span></div>
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<b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: large;">get a crowd!<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You need to build an initial group of supporters (like
family and friends) who have to be there before the launch. Ideally, you need
to reach at least 10,000 people even if it isn’t direct reach. This is where
social networks like <b>LinkedIn</b>,<b> Facebook</b>, etc. come in handy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If all that sounds like a hassle, why bother?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is a <b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">very good springboard for the company</span></b>
because people will know you. You’ll acquire clients and partners, and you’ll
be known to investors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have a look at some of the <b>crowdfunding platforms</b>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.seedrs.com/?gclid=CMGTgOipk8sCFQtAGwodrQ0AnA">SEEDRS</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.crowdcube.com/landing/join-crowdcube?gclid=CPrgjvqpk8sCFerpwgodCLkD4A">crowdcube</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.crowdbnk.com/">CrowdBnk</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.syndicateroom.com/">SYNDICATE ROOM</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hey scientists</b>, you might find this publication very useful: <b><a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1002373">A Guide to Scientific Crowdfunding</a></b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-36736390031466488322015-08-14T13:40:00.002+01:002015-09-01T13:37:38.137+01:00Swapping skirts for trousers: the price for a trip around the world<div class="MsoNormal">
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<o:p></o:p></div>
It is 1766. A French expedition has been sent to
circumnavigate the globe. In a world dominated by men, a rumour starts spreading
. . . There is a WOMAN on board!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2Wl46tzigP6jo31XWkcXH4_ZCAWbCn72WDZj6ZI1pEG9sF8qPGuKLgfD37iup2qJJirrZ8hpDNSvWDb0dA-O9hCDm8SNEiI1HUsvt3BNQQd5IaeFP5qz6sn9wUnAvnug-SS9AvIimTc/s1600/jeanne+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2Wl46tzigP6jo31XWkcXH4_ZCAWbCn72WDZj6ZI1pEG9sF8qPGuKLgfD37iup2qJJirrZ8hpDNSvWDb0dA-O9hCDm8SNEiI1HUsvt3BNQQd5IaeFP5qz6sn9wUnAvnug-SS9AvIimTc/s640/jeanne+final.jpg" width="414" /></a></div>
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While I was doing research for my previous post, I came
across <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160932703000188">this article</a> talking about the first woman to circumnavigate the
globe. I found it really interesting and decided to look for more information
about that. It turned out that a book had already been written: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Discovery-Jeanne-Baret-Circumnavigate/dp/0307463532"><b>The discovery of Jeanne Baret</b></a> by <a href="http://louisville.edu/english/faculty-staff/faculty/ridley.html"><b>Glynis Ridley</b></a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Jeanne Baret was born in France in 1740 and came from a working class family. This is the <b>first striking fact </b>about her: In those times,
how come someone who came from low origins ended up in a trip around the world?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Research about Jeanne’s life places her as an “herb woman”,
someone who collected plants and used them for medicinal purposes. This is how
she was supposed to have met the man who made her voyage possible: <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philibert_Commerson">Philibert Commerson</a></b>,
a botanist who lived around the same area. In her book, Ridley imagines their
meeting during one of the collecting trips. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The story tells us that Jeanne became Commerson’s lover and
moved to his place after his wife passed away. This is the <b>second striking fact</b>
about Jeanne: Why would someone with a high status would need a woman like her?
It is quite obvious that this must have been due to her great knowledge of
plants. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At the time, trips around the world were the way to claim
new lands. The French organised such a trip in 1766. The purpose of the trip
was to expand their territory and their scientific knowledge by collecting new
specimens. Commerson was invited to join as the expedition’s botanist and took
an assistant with him. I’m sure you can now guess who the assistant was. The
<b>third striking fact</b> about Jeanne: How did a woman manage to join such an
expedition? It was banned and unthinkable! So Jeanne’s clever idea was to dress
as a man and play the part of Commerson’s assistant. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Antoine_de_Bougainville">Louis-Antoine de Bougainville</a></b> was in charge of the
expedition comprising about 300 men and two ships, the <i>Boudeuse</i> and the <i>Étoile</i>.
A handful of journals lived to tell the story of what happened during the
voyage, that’s how we know about Jeanne’s disguise and what she did during the
trip. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYMLI77wXCS8Hru77oFC5aB0K2_Qbgiq3GVHUmIVF_hFCT0jGx1LPFy8zhiouoUJ5RenLssiEXMluFaQvM2C3-M-NHIh9gUFF29_VONPkkntNkb5v7gArwQwqKMqd44HGKsNwBRYeOu0/s1600/map+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYMLI77wXCS8Hru77oFC5aB0K2_Qbgiq3GVHUmIVF_hFCT0jGx1LPFy8zhiouoUJ5RenLssiEXMluFaQvM2C3-M-NHIh9gUFF29_VONPkkntNkb5v7gArwQwqKMqd44HGKsNwBRYeOu0/s640/map+final.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I’m sure you are wondering, how was it possible that not one
single man realised that Jeanne was a woman? The most popular story is that Jeanne’s
cover was revealed during their stay in Tahiti. That must have been about 18
months after the journey started. It is said that the natives were the ones who
realised that she was a girl the moment she set foot on the island. This came
as a surprise to everyone on board, especially to Bougainville. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This story is not really believable. It is thought that Bougainville
made it up to avoid conflict due to laws banning women from those journeys. He,
like Commerson, must have recognised Jeanne’s potential to make their
botanising expedition a success. Not wanting to get rid of her, he had to come
up with a story. Here we have the <b>fourth striking fact</b>: thanks to her knowledge
and dedication, Jeanne was allowed to stay through the whole expedition. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We can tell by the surviving accounts that Jeanne had been
very brave and worked extremely hard to collect the specimens. She ventured
into the most dangerous lands, climbed steep hills and sharp rocks, always
carrying her botanising equipment, which included an incredibly heavy <a href="http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herbarium/voucher.htm">field press</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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They went to places like Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo and
through the Strait of Magellan in South America; Tahiti, New Britain and New
Ireland in The Pacific. The final stop was the island of Mauritius in the
Indian Ocean. </div>
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The expedition left for France in 1768, however, Jeanne and
Commerson stayed behind. They decided to go to Madagascar to increase their
collection, which amounted to more than 6000 pieces! This is now displayed at
the <a href="https://www.mnhn.fr/fr"><b>Natural History Museum</b></a> in Paris. Commerson died in Mauritius and
Jeanne married a soldier called Jean Dubernat. They came back to France until
1775, where she lived till the age of 67. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Two of the most popular discoveries of this expedition were:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-ESJWPEf-TxTyAwhx2dRATwnhsZtrh8DtgU4UesDp3FL9azqc0uehcXiTnhm0ktf7G06xXQhf-Lh7gbtFCBTnhxBZ2GrdolDsMA2kZo9bDv-M5-v6nEhL07ZbKTRzD5O3jzp2L-bKyA/s1600/bougainvillea+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-ESJWPEf-TxTyAwhx2dRATwnhsZtrh8DtgU4UesDp3FL9azqc0uehcXiTnhm0ktf7G06xXQhf-Lh7gbtFCBTnhxBZ2GrdolDsMA2kZo9bDv-M5-v6nEhL07ZbKTRzD5O3jzp2L-bKyA/s400/bougainvillea+final.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainvillea"><b>bougainvillea</b></a> (<i>Bougainvillea
brasiliensis</i>), discovered in Rio de Janeiro and named
after Bougainville.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cizanuf2Slv0Qei3kl0ABB3ljsvqC9zSZB3Z7IjHaxuG4H40CZOzE0sMZ0Gm7cdBm4RojhiaP6iilWiAynkhcaVCJQsnCOrgFKwixoHkxeaiQ5JsI6_ZX_TWo36EDNJcz9X2HyYiLWY/s1600/dolphin+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cizanuf2Slv0Qei3kl0ABB3ljsvqC9zSZB3Z7IjHaxuG4H40CZOzE0sMZ0Gm7cdBm4RojhiaP6iilWiAynkhcaVCJQsnCOrgFKwixoHkxeaiQ5JsI6_ZX_TWo36EDNJcz9X2HyYiLWY/s400/dolphin+final.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commerson%27s_dolphin">Commerson’s dolphin</a></b> (<i>Cephalorhyncus</i>
<i>comersonii</i>) (link and figure), which
they spotted while crossing the Strait of Magellan.</li>
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None of the new specimens were named after Jeanne. However,
it is said that while in Madagascar Commerson did name a plant after her. The
genus was called <i>Baretia</i>, and according to Commerson it comprised three species: <i>Baretia bonafidia</i>, <i>Baretia oppotisiva</i>, and <i>Baretia
heterophylla</i>. The plants have different shapes and sizes of leaves, hinting
at the dubious identity of Jeanne while they were at sea. There are now about
50 species belonging to this genus, which was sadly renamed to <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turraea">Turraea</a></i>.</div>
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Up until 2012 there were no varieties named after Jeanne.
Then a group in the USA decided that it was time to commemorate her success: <i><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3254248/"><b>Solanum baretiae</b></a> </i>is a new species of <i>Solanum</i>. This genus is one of the
largest and commercially important on earth and includes the tomato, potato and
eggplant. <i>Solanum baretiae</i> grows at
high altitudes (about 1900 to 3000 m) mostly in the south of Ecuador and north
of Peru, and like Commerson’s <i>Baretia</i>,
its leaves are variable. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtzGRDmTtnWjKdNkeTTCfyK36Ib37j7G0MxCiExDzZNqxGiCszNKD8FSDUIu7SJeYPCrbWepwMLYaxuDXSyZ4WNUV0DbdVOhruRkqdRnggwSuhQ1Q5hMJUQwPdWaUNjM6VwpEW1Bhae0/s1600/solanum+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtzGRDmTtnWjKdNkeTTCfyK36Ib37j7G0MxCiExDzZNqxGiCszNKD8FSDUIu7SJeYPCrbWepwMLYaxuDXSyZ4WNUV0DbdVOhruRkqdRnggwSuhQ1Q5hMJUQwPdWaUNjM6VwpEW1Bhae0/s640/solanum+final.jpg" width="376" /></a></div>
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At last Jeanne’s name has been honoured, a happy ending to the
story of a remarkable woman.<o:p></o:p></div>
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References:</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Discovery-Jeanne-Baret-Circumnavigate/dp/0307463532">The discovery of Jeanne Baret: A story of science, the high seas, and the first woman to circumnavigate the globe.</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3254248/">A new species of <i>Solanum</i> named for Jeanne Baret, an overlooked contributor to the history of botany.</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160932703000188">Jeanne Baret: the first woman to circumnavigate the globe.</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-18262575641270984642015-07-28T19:44:00.000+01:002015-08-10T17:53:31.735+01:00Chasing dreams and butterflies<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Imagine a Lady in the 1600s chasing and collecting
butterflies… People around her thought she was mad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> “<a href="http://www.fionamountain.com/LOTB.html"><b>Lady of the Butterflies</b></a>”, the novel by <st1:place w:st="on"><b><st1:placename w:st="on">Fiona</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Mountain</st1:placename></b></st1:place>, tells the story
of <a href="http://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/opinion/blogs/lady-eleanor-and-her-elusive-butterfly/11106908.blog"><b>Lady Eleanor Glanville</b></a>, butterfly enthusiast, and the search for HER butterfly.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7qvr4HeCtievhXLp0ozJDPp4ar8jvzej31odaTheArRQdvEJRCh1Z8xcjG9wazKDS-6BdejBtFn9p3LE0y_HXU7qryVal5H763wIpDdRw5lr4Ts2ND-cKyVYXAiI2KSw-iORXQHaXVE/s1600/butterfly+ready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7qvr4HeCtievhXLp0ozJDPp4ar8jvzej31odaTheArRQdvEJRCh1Z8xcjG9wazKDS-6BdejBtFn9p3LE0y_HXU7qryVal5H763wIpDdRw5lr4Ts2ND-cKyVYXAiI2KSw-iORXQHaXVE/s640/butterfly+ready.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To start with, I’ll tell you a bit about some of the
characters who play a very important part of the story: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/22041">James Petiver</a></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A pharmacist and insect collector, he was the first person
to give butterflies English names. He corresponded with Eleanor, and used her
observations and specimens in his famous illustrated catalogue of British
insects “<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gazophylacii-Descriptionibus-brevibus-illustrantur-moecenatibus/dp/1140743589/ref=la_B00JG8MZ64_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438098115&sr=1-8"><i>Gazophylacium</i> <i>naturae </i>& <i>artis</i></a>”. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.janswammerdam.org/">Jan Swammerdam</a></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUI70G5N8Pw6-zsP1MDPUcmFXgN84YrspXC_OZz1bk0qquvGa4G3Us_liQJshUze0qe6ycVuThElLuFDCXzzHuPp1S7ASxzsCI3pY4mO4oG2SpzJxSAMnVC1eU212PHMAZuvjBl102NM/s1600/Frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUI70G5N8Pw6-zsP1MDPUcmFXgN84YrspXC_OZz1bk0qquvGa4G3Us_liQJshUze0qe6ycVuThElLuFDCXzzHuPp1S7ASxzsCI3pY4mO4oG2SpzJxSAMnVC1eU212PHMAZuvjBl102NM/s400/Frog.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Famous for his work on insect anatomy and his publication “The
Natural History of Insects”, Jan did more than dissecting only insects: He
designed the <a href="http://www.janswammerdam.org/nerve.html">frog nerve-muscle preparation</a>. With this, he disproved the theory
that nerve movement happened because of “animal spirits”, and opened up a way
to understand nerve function. Basically, all we know now about nerves happened
because of this man and his frogs. Amazing! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2938984/">Sir Hans Sloane</a></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A famous physician during his time, and even President of
the Royal Society, he was also a passionate collector of plants and animals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwDvdGYYEdFzlOK1O6ZC6oxKhYRU4xtTsuVAN5P8VlQsUKhT583AAjWBTlRMEjabTMsBsJ1_RPaTUiu-8LfrgSsrv75dS1ENVCuwRR4xtt4igYaMbKexEGr4ycKMmGWM5T5NThnzs9C0/s1600/chocs+ready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwDvdGYYEdFzlOK1O6ZC6oxKhYRU4xtTsuVAN5P8VlQsUKhT583AAjWBTlRMEjabTMsBsJ1_RPaTUiu-8LfrgSsrv75dS1ENVCuwRR4xtt4igYaMbKexEGr4ycKMmGWM5T5NThnzs9C0/s400/chocs+ready.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">In 1687 he travelled to Jamaica to find medicinal plants. During
his time there, he bought vast quantities of Peruvian bark, then known as Jesuits’
powder, to bring back to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Britain</st1:country-region>.
This powder is the source of quinine, the drug used to treat <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2690974/"><b>malaria</b></a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But that
is not all, while in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jamaica</st1:country-region>,
he came across the drink made from cocoa beans (chocolate). He worked on a
recipe to mix it with milk and sugar, inventing <b>milk chocolate</b>. Eventually he
sold his recipe to the <a href="https://www.cadbury.co.uk/"><b>Cadbury</b></a> brothers and we know the rest of the story.
Thanks Sir Hans from us chocoholics! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">His obsession with collections drove him to buy as many as
became available. For example, he acquired James Petiver’s in 1718, which
included the correspondence with Eleanor. Sir Hans offered to sell his
collections to the nation after his death. When this happened in 1753, his collections
included 5,439 insects and over 12,000 samples of plant material among many
other objects. This collection was part of the foundation of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">British</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place>, which is now the <b><a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/">Natural History Museum</a>.</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAKtcjFlfA0a1lGL2udWgLPzxilku-VhTxlpvF4JxvHKbtxsh1sB85Y-1gmHLzVOBN3eNCDtqTnTG66dQnaqzTKmRtT3mcmoOWWC3HfDrmoYQpzZRyCWc_cBH8OuHLycNR7TaJiwqw2w/s1600/museum+ready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="523" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAKtcjFlfA0a1lGL2udWgLPzxilku-VhTxlpvF4JxvHKbtxsh1sB85Y-1gmHLzVOBN3eNCDtqTnTG66dQnaqzTKmRtT3mcmoOWWC3HfDrmoYQpzZRyCWc_cBH8OuHLycNR7TaJiwqw2w/s640/museum+ready.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>So what happened to Eleanor? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sadly, Eleanor was not able to spread her wings as much as
she would have liked to. But even then, despite what people thought, she
managed to gather important information which she shared with James Petiver.
Eleanor’s work lives today as part of the collections in the Natural History Museum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And what about her butterfly? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Eleanor did find her butterfly. It was named after her
because she was the first person to catch it: the </span><a href="http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=cinxia" style="font-size: large;"><b>Glanville fritillary</b></a><span style="font-size: large;"> (</span><i style="font-size: large;">Melitaea cinxia</i><span style="font-size: large;">). Despite being one of
the rarest, we can still find it on the Isle of Wight. It would be so sad to
let it disappear!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you are interested in <b>butterfly conservation</b>, visit <a href="http://butterfly-conservation.org/">this site</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">References: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/opinion/blogs/lady-eleanor-and-her-elusive-butterfly/11106908.blog">Lady Eleanor and her elusive butterfly</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.nature.com/nrn/journal/v3/n5/full/nrn806.html">Exorcizing the animal spirits: Jan Swammerdam on nerve function</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2690974/">Antimalarials and the fight against malaria in Brazil</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2938984/">Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1735): his life and legacy</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-17660032774525558162015-06-01T07:00:00.000+01:002015-06-01T07:00:09.319+01:00Leonora in the tower<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.christiansborg.dk/">Christiansborg Palace</a> in Copenhagen is amazing, but even
more astounding is the story behind it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is the fifth castle to be built in the same area. You can read </span><span style="font-size: large;">more about the previous castles and why they disappeared </span><a href="http://www.copenhagenet.dk/cph-map/CPH-Chrborg-R.asp" style="font-size: large;">here</a><span style="font-size: large;"> .</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrUNkcYk75gFDF2iB1S_N4IQrmPhyphenhyphenhj1W3LQbOe3ZBWCfDNr4w7Qyxo3nWT-gmoGwndixvk2MfTxmFpJOvT6C2AP-50JxA5nvlytrQpXjQPdcHbvFWA-KOFs3wL2ByXeA2CLiqWNx1jY/s1600/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrUNkcYk75gFDF2iB1S_N4IQrmPhyphenhyphenhj1W3LQbOe3ZBWCfDNr4w7Qyxo3nWT-gmoGwndixvk2MfTxmFpJOvT6C2AP-50JxA5nvlytrQpXjQPdcHbvFWA-KOFs3wL2ByXeA2CLiqWNx1jY/s1600/Picture2.jpg" height="558" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Palace has a section underground where you can see the
ruins of the first (Absalon’s Castle) and second (Copenhagen Castle) castles. Among
the ruins of the second castle, stand the remains of what was once called <b>The
Blue Tower</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Like in the story of Rapunzel, a remarkable woman spent almost
22 years imprisoned in this tower: <b>Leonora Christina Ulfeldt</b>. She was the
daughter of Christian IV of Denmark and was taken to prison only because she
was the wife of a traitor. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMI8HP7K0gvJWajkh6oSQ0sxR2tLW7LHlhYplgnVFZK3ec-0j4bVRLHcl2Rcrspx040yyl60yyxlu5NGrU8bn58kCm8V6pV-f_iflyJaUYvr4aLwDKeTmF8xK7eS9cvV7TOxmvtFc3Dd0/s1600/P3180054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMI8HP7K0gvJWajkh6oSQ0sxR2tLW7LHlhYplgnVFZK3ec-0j4bVRLHcl2Rcrspx040yyl60yyxlu5NGrU8bn58kCm8V6pV-f_iflyJaUYvr4aLwDKeTmF8xK7eS9cvV7TOxmvtFc3Dd0/s1600/P3180054.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was curious to know more about her, so I read her <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Memoirs-Leonora-Christina-Imprisonment-Copenhagen-ebook/dp/B0072JXPDG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428585253&sr=1-1&keywords=MEMOIRS+OF+LEONORA+CHRISTINA%3A+DAUGHTER+OF+CHRISTIAN+IV+OF+DENMARK.+WRITTEN+DURING+HER+IMPRISONMENT+IN+THE+BLUE+TOWER+AT+COPENHAGEN+%281663-1685%29">memoirs</a>
which she wrote after her imprisonment. Her notes include a small autobiography
where she recounts how at 21 she learned Latin, Italian, Spanish, French and
English, and how she translated books from Spanish and from French. She also
talks about her marriage to Corfitz Ulfeldt, relating how soon afterwards, she
paid for his debts with her jewellery. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When she was taken prisoner, she was put in a cell that was
known as The Dark Church. She describes the horrible stench and the food and
drink as “bitter bread and bitter gall”. After a while she was moved up to a cleaner
cell where she spent most of her imprisonment. She honours God for her strength
and even acknowledges her suffering for “having loved a virtuous husband” and
for “not having abandoned him in misfortune”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70f_TmC6xKhiOEBOel110hiL9F1kV6TAD5S-ucIeNRma-nGqUW4n57WFxw3jKpLhn0UGplY9sTV-VRTcuxpHybMmv1AXY7evcWG2-Cf3to10ITYGRp0E_ZV7xIbbHeKx0XZR2VRVEEKc/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70f_TmC6xKhiOEBOel110hiL9F1kV6TAD5S-ucIeNRma-nGqUW4n57WFxw3jKpLhn0UGplY9sTV-VRTcuxpHybMmv1AXY7evcWG2-Cf3to10ITYGRp0E_ZV7xIbbHeKx0XZR2VRVEEKc/s1600/Picture1.jpg" height="640" width="536" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She relates how she had no unemployed hours: she read the
Bible, embroidered, and even taught one of the maids how to read. Not only brave
but also creative, she figured that by mixing clay with beer she could make
portraits, jugs and vases. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And she even recorded two observations which she
thought fit for a naturalist:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She discovered “a kind of caterpillar which brings forth
small living grubs like itself” and that “a flea gives birth to a fully formed
flea”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Leonora Christina is now in my list of heroines; I love how her
bravery, patience, and creativity got her through those 22 years.</span><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Reference:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Memoirs-Leonora-Christina-Imprisonment-Copenhagen-ebook/dp/B0072JXPDG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1428585253&sr=1-1&keywords=MEMOIRS+OF+LEONORA+CHRISTINA%3A+DAUGHTER+OF+CHRISTIAN+IV+OF+DENMARK.+WRITTEN+DURING+HER+IMPRISONMENT+IN+THE+BLUE+TOWER+AT+COPENHAGEN+%281663-1685%29">Memoirs of Leonora Christina: Daughter of Christian IV of Denmark; Written during her imprisonment in the Blue Tower at Copenhagen (1663-1685)</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-58667584785132683722015-05-01T09:45:00.000+01:002015-05-01T09:45:15.909+01:00Of Vikings, Ships and Combs<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">What I loved the most about Oslo was the <a href="http://www.khm.uio.no/english/visit-us/viking-ship-museum/">Viking Ship Museum</a>.
I had never seen a Viking ship in real life. They are absolutely amazing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZhyphenhyphenneG1AdxN9eENmEFB1TW1dnuBDJylGb3tcW1O9s7GJDm5lB_oH2MujP9AtvC0t18JsN_w3wDIhLes-K-rs9uHGEk7UhNOLp_TqU_yYvBIYaHtnysmVxs66725A8F9W8W9AbsfNt80/s1600/P3200177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZhyphenhyphenneG1AdxN9eENmEFB1TW1dnuBDJylGb3tcW1O9s7GJDm5lB_oH2MujP9AtvC0t18JsN_w3wDIhLes-K-rs9uHGEk7UhNOLp_TqU_yYvBIYaHtnysmVxs66725A8F9W8W9AbsfNt80/s1600/P3200177.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was impressed by their size, but what I found truly
interesting was that the Vikings buried their dead in those ships. I cannot
imagine how it must have been to inter such enormous things. The dead were
buried together with utensils and jewellery in the case of women, tools and
weapons in the case of men. There were also remains of dogs and horses, as well
as food and drink in some of the graves. It reminded me a bit of what they did in
Egypt. It is obvious that the way the bodies were placed surrounded by all those
objects had a special meaning. The literature suggests a belief in life after
death.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82QDspXmzxVixB91tMs6iOSHDBcNyN4RpreB-jcOqen1vAq4nnx-lJ9sCWJaA_6nGq444tLPWcMDYPhlRuEEJELUWqAhe3iUxcWMyCpmM82TYNada9jDoY975nfAbvy5_SagCk4yJPfU/s1600/P3200180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82QDspXmzxVixB91tMs6iOSHDBcNyN4RpreB-jcOqen1vAq4nnx-lJ9sCWJaA_6nGq444tLPWcMDYPhlRuEEJELUWqAhe3iUxcWMyCpmM82TYNada9jDoY975nfAbvy5_SagCk4yJPfU/s1600/P3200180.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the objects found in the graves that drew my
attention was <b>the comb</b>. Searching for information, I found <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Viking-Way-Life-Steven-Ashby/dp/1445601524">this book</a> by <a href="https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/academic-staff/steve-ashby/">Steven P. Ashby</a>. Steven tries to “see” how the Vikings lived by analysing the making
and use of combs. Combs played a very important role in Viking life, they were
made of antlers from red deer, reindeer or elk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The book takes you through the stages of comb-making and
use. It analyses questions like how the Vikings got the rough materials, how
they manufactured the combs and if they sold them or gave them as gifts. It
also touches on themes like the uses of combs, for example, whether they were
used for grooming or as ornaments, if they were a symbol of status, and why
they were found in the graves. After reading it, I realised that my conception
of the Vikings was completely wrong. For one thing, they paid great attention to
their hair!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkQtGDu9b2070caYlgSsSXoxn4So8f3rMLJJgWRcUJoJozuaUeU1Pr8aP6Ah_s7rSVywnGmaCUaIWcE5B1VpRAtSwicsToPhEGz-JMeS_NxeOLZEEB6_ENIZQWs3pAo-y7qOXNX5jZdg/s1600/P3200171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkQtGDu9b2070caYlgSsSXoxn4So8f3rMLJJgWRcUJoJozuaUeU1Pr8aP6Ah_s7rSVywnGmaCUaIWcE5B1VpRAtSwicsToPhEGz-JMeS_NxeOLZEEB6_ENIZQWs3pAo-y7qOXNX5jZdg/s1600/P3200171.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When in Oslo visit The Viking Ship museum, a MUST SEE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">References:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Viking-Way-Life-Steven-Ashby/dp/1445601524"><span style="font-size: large;">A Viking way of life</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Oxford-Illustrated-History-Vikings/dp/0192854348"><span style="font-size: large;">The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings</span></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-6191208712884259262015-04-07T15:15:00.000+01:002015-04-16T15:36:41.676+01:00Royal horses<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">During my holiday in Copenhagen I went to <a href="http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/christiansborg-palace-gdk420896">Christiansborg Palace</a> and visited the <a href="http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/the-royal-stables-at-christiansborg-palace-gdk705005">Royal Stables</a>. There I saw the most beautiful white horses! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDsFeGhq_ze3P6yQZzrz8nQMtLULWs3tSfKbjaNvF1ERQEWawaYJ10tHgrOfljPvX-5IbC1afUNXWziQpudEE6V-raRiZabPDfTxUMHnyA72PXVVOhVNbLR-VXAoVywxPOGbnzYJiNS0/s1600/P3180079150327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDsFeGhq_ze3P6yQZzrz8nQMtLULWs3tSfKbjaNvF1ERQEWawaYJ10tHgrOfljPvX-5IbC1afUNXWziQpudEE6V-raRiZabPDfTxUMHnyA72PXVVOhVNbLR-VXAoVywxPOGbnzYJiNS0/s1600/P3180079150327.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kladrubers come from the Czech Republic. They were bred during
the 17<sup>th</sup> Century to be used for ceremonial tasks, like pulling
carriages. They can be grey or black. The ones I saw were mostly white with a
few grey freckles. A curious fact is that they are born dark and turn white
when they reach 6 or 7 years of age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The grey population is rather small. So I was very sad when I read that they are an endangered breed. Luckily, conservation
programmes have been established to deal with problems like loss of genetic variability due
to inbreeding. However, they are also threatened by cancer and viral infections. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV992vnzyBk5sMf_j6ep8TKYF3E6Xv9JS61OnXKJf5eSCPPNpD0rC-QaX5AjAs3cN39I10ktvtXRgm7DK3EW5rcKiWMIbBqiIHMgk2LgaGMMdK9sDrw8o5t2t-AhWK0-hINBIDjgLb4vo/s1600/P3180101150327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV992vnzyBk5sMf_j6ep8TKYF3E6Xv9JS61OnXKJf5eSCPPNpD0rC-QaX5AjAs3cN39I10ktvtXRgm7DK3EW5rcKiWMIbBqiIHMgk2LgaGMMdK9sDrw8o5t2t-AhWK0-hINBIDjgLb4vo/s1600/P3180101150327.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Like humans, horses suffer from skin cancer. Kladrubers in particular are prone to this disease. Part of
the conservation programmes include studies to find genetic markers related to predisposition
and resistance to melanoma. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Kladrubers are also victims of infection by Equine
herpesviruses. In particular, Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) affects the
respiratory tract and causes abortions in pregnant mares. Fortunately , we now have vaccines
which prevent the spreading of the virus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4KHag-JuvzAvxPD2iIieIcBmM2CaLs4A5Kzwf0kiZbEQ61183nxrLBTpiUxwfjPC8EhHwxUH8FEZ1QqThTI3SPxkDYduZJ7bFpX8mWY3DGRXRODsdXk5oIxoXbcbk3zwE_JJOQG9OEM/s1600/P3180074150327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4KHag-JuvzAvxPD2iIieIcBmM2CaLs4A5Kzwf0kiZbEQ61183nxrLBTpiUxwfjPC8EhHwxUH8FEZ1QqThTI3SPxkDYduZJ7bFpX8mWY3DGRXRODsdXk5oIxoXbcbk3zwE_JJOQG9OEM/s1600/P3180074150327.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope that thanks to the conservation programmes, these
horses will not be considered an endangered breed in the near future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Visit the Royal Stables if you go to Copenhagen!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">References:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1399-0039.2011.01827.x/abstract;jsessionid=D3477732B9D09B6618CFE2A05D03BE13.f03t04">Genomic analysis of resistance/susceptibility to melanoma in Old Kladruber greying horses.</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs13353-013-0151-3">Genetic diversity and conservation in a small endangered horse population.</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003452881300088X"><span style="font-size: large;">Genetics of anti-EHV antibody responses in a horse population. </span></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-75811148172751606432015-03-11T16:38:00.001+00:002016-06-20T19:46:45.225+01:00Crazy about bamboo<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As part of my visit to Mexico City (see <a href="http://blogicalflask.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/finding-dory-in-mexico.html">my post</a> about the aquarium) I also went to the zoo. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.sedema.df.gob.mx/zoo_chapultepec/">Chapultepec Zoo</a> is amazing because it is in the middle of the city. Entrance is free
and you only have to pay to visit some of the attractions like the butterfly or
reptile houses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The purpose of my visit was to see the pandas. I went
straight away to their enclosure and saw a female called <i><b>Xin Xin</b></i>. I was impressed at the amount of bamboo she was having for
breakfast. Then I wondered what the nutritional properties of bamboo were, and
whether humans could also eat it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAz0I2PBgt2YFKlylP29m0CR1aipuF3iAOEyCR1Fkn15KX5Y5VdRG_w9tEKR89lCpXYXdLetoLNVqXiyY0HBEPkH7ev4RGCRiA8RiYbgW_V6u49JL-GDGM-6hWvll1I5YuH_Jq7dktS8/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAz0I2PBgt2YFKlylP29m0CR1aipuF3iAOEyCR1Fkn15KX5Y5VdRG_w9tEKR89lCpXYXdLetoLNVqXiyY0HBEPkH7ev4RGCRiA8RiYbgW_V6u49JL-GDGM-6hWvll1I5YuH_Jq7dktS8/s1600/Picture1.jpg" width="404" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Searching the literature, I found <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2010.531488?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed#.VO8qsPmsVjQ">this</a> amazing review by a
group in India. Here are some of the facts I found most interesting:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Where to find bamboo:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are more than 1250 species of bamboo distributed in the
world. In particular, around 1000 of these species are found in Asia. For
example, China and India are two of the main countries that produce bamboo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Food products:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">People around the world have been consuming bamboo shoots
for generations. They have used it for sustenance and in medicinal
preparations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Not all species are edible. However, this has not stopped
the production of commercially available pickles, powders, juices and even
beer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Nutritional composition:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Bamboo shoots are highly nutritious. They contain protein,
carbohydrates, vitamins like B1 and B6, and minerals like potassium and the
antioxidant selenium. On top of that, they have low fat and high fibre content.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Toxicity: <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Bamboo shoots sound like a dream food. But there’s a dark
side to them: Raw shoots contain cyanide. Eating cyanide regularly, at doses
that are not lethal, can affect reproduction and cause thyroid problems. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Severe
cyanide poisoning can cause a drop in blood pressure, dizziness, head and
stomach pains, diarrhoea, convulsions, and even death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To avoid intoxication, the shoots have to be processed by
methods like boiling, soaking, drying, and fermentation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Medicinal properties: <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Some communities around the world use bamboo paste to treat
fungal infections and to heal wounds.
They also boil the shoots to make a soup which they use to treat stomach
ulcers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">There aren't many scientific studies regarding the medicinal
properties of bamboo shoots. Some studies in rats suggest that it might be good
at lowering levels of cholesterol. Indeed, research in this area has a long way
to go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KA_MvOw7bOMpbMQMy7aWdBGL5HlXwF0O8xWzDcUCzS1vA3maQ3Nca6H4vXfVHNfqjtSoADWD7pJTXvpwZwcKPJSuHV1qVk6I_uYb8ibNCLzpx4vr4HXnwfof5r_L1jvOHjF8a5j6FMU/s1600/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KA_MvOw7bOMpbMQMy7aWdBGL5HlXwF0O8xWzDcUCzS1vA3maQ3Nca6H4vXfVHNfqjtSoADWD7pJTXvpwZwcKPJSuHV1qVk6I_uYb8ibNCLzpx4vr4HXnwfof5r_L1jvOHjF8a5j6FMU/s1600/Picture2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To finish this post on a good note, I’d like to share <a href="http://www.conacytprensa.mx/index.php/tecnologia/materiales/813-bambulosas">this article</a> discussing the use of bamboo to make tiles. Wonderful!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">References:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2010.531488?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed#.VO8qsPmsVjQ"><span style="font-size: large;">Bamboo shoots: A novel source of nutrition and medicine</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.conacytprensa.mx/index.php/tecnologia/materiales/813-bambulosas"><span style="font-size: large;">Ligeras, resistentes y econ<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">ó</span>micas: Lozas de bamb<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">ú</span></span></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-51145728956316362342015-02-20T15:34:00.000+00:002015-02-20T15:34:24.985+00:00Finding Dory in Mexico<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A marine paradise underneath Mexico City: <b><a href="http://www.acuarioinbursa.com.mx/">Inbursa Aquarium</a></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I enjoyed visiting this place so much. Four underground levels
where you can see over 15,000 varieties from 300 species! Not easy when Mexico City
is quite far from the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I saw sharks, manta rays, penguins, and other fish I had
never seen before. However, my younger self wanted to find <a href="http://pixar.wikia.com/Dory"><b>Dory</b></a>. I was not the
only one though. All these kids were also wondering where Dory was. After
looking through many fish tanks, we finally spotted her! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mtqpM8_exiWU6D-GKRVJnFqBdVu7dYHW2OVTSG_qz0ERUiD50qFTzCfUZO2pqTVKbgQ05JM9E2cbXUN-HLfEn8LRCoa8jakgBzhyphenhyphenI77N5uvDXUBlkmX4lPwNNb5bpHoCOfkNlwLMnTs/s1600/PC120243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mtqpM8_exiWU6D-GKRVJnFqBdVu7dYHW2OVTSG_qz0ERUiD50qFTzCfUZO2pqTVKbgQ05JM9E2cbXUN-HLfEn8LRCoa8jakgBzhyphenhyphenI77N5uvDXUBlkmX4lPwNNb5bpHoCOfkNlwLMnTs/s1600/PC120243.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I did not have a clue what kind of fish Dory was. Something
I learned from my visit was that Dory (<i>Paracanthurus hepatus</i>) is a <b>surgeonfish</b>. </span><span style="font-size: large;">They have other names like the regal tang or
blue tang.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One thing I love about Dory is her colours. What makes Dory
have such a beautiful blue body with a black stripe and a yellow tail? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dory’s blue colour is due to the reflection of blue
wavelengths from the surface of her body. If you zoom in on the surface, you will
find cells called <b>iridophores</b>, which in turn contain tiny crystals that reflect
the light. These crystals are called <b>reflective platelets</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Apart from blue, Dory has a yellow tail and a black stripe.
The colour in these cases is not due to reflective platelets but to the
presence of cells that make pigments: <b>Xanthophores</b> make the yellow and <b>melanophores</b> make the black. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJVwHWKidL7JGTtW0xvsvex1beQMrQttlexGhMM1h6sDoS_mwBPYYgjLpk5l9wV1P93IfyCBZHG83q3dYff3u8l1xGSTYYN2SJkv5LtKzLcSUoT0ZA0t55oU4W2rS7KPumCmSqjhkrd8/s1600/PC120206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJVwHWKidL7JGTtW0xvsvex1beQMrQttlexGhMM1h6sDoS_mwBPYYgjLpk5l9wV1P93IfyCBZHG83q3dYff3u8l1xGSTYYN2SJkv5LtKzLcSUoT0ZA0t55oU4W2rS7KPumCmSqjhkrd8/s1600/PC120206.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Colours in animals help them to adapt to their environment.
For example, they can change colour to match the background and hide from
predators, or they can display their colours to attract a partner. So how can
animals change their colours?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Colour changing is known as <b>physiological colour change</b>.
It happens when the pigments inside the cells move. For example, the
melanophores contain the black pigment called <b>melanin</b>. If melanin is properly
distributed within the cells, the skin colour is black, but when melanin
aggregates the skin turns paler. In the case of iridophores, which don’t have
any pigments, the reflective platelets change their angles to reflect the light
in another way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wow, isn't Dory amazing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh! And don't forget to visit the aquarium if you go to Mexico City.You’ll
love it!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">References:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1034/j.1600-0749.2000.130502.x/full">The regulation of motile activity in fish chromatophores</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0749.2006.00360.x/full">On the blue coloration of vertebrates</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pcmr.12040/full">Rapid color change in fish and amphibians</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-32378120404395429542014-10-16T11:15:00.000+01:002014-10-29T12:52:30.850+00:00Creepy "hairy" stories<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhvggaX2SFeyrXCy0cip1uZnKb_NPwzkAqV-C67eWveGx4Q413atYU7hU9qX3oxCSiiH5k8tBM2Arhzd455WQ3SVmHENuuPwNtnE9Pik_xHgpBvrmYv1hUbyHrFmqctDaB3iL74jY8Tg/s1600/book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhvggaX2SFeyrXCy0cip1uZnKb_NPwzkAqV-C67eWveGx4Q413atYU7hU9qX3oxCSiiH5k8tBM2Arhzd455WQ3SVmHENuuPwNtnE9Pik_xHgpBvrmYv1hUbyHrFmqctDaB3iL74jY8Tg/s1600/book.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a>Michelle Lovric's “<a href="http://www.michellelovric.com/Pages/novels.htm">The True & Splendid History of the Harristown Sisters</a>” is all about hair. What drew my attention the most were the
disorders mentioned in the novel. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone has heard about and maybe even experienced having
head lice, right? However, the book also touches on other rather creepy
conditions. I had to look for information about them because I thought the
author might have made them up. It turns out that they do exist!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So my three candidates to make your hair stand on end are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2sSeNoTh6xQIutfrH9oA8dl64-OX1w8xLHXRfmM2LOYxsEFHNTcEKZoTHOiyRLW9rhNJ6XU0TwXxmAyymNSfEypbbsBTtsYIQoKt649PYOQD0nItHpbBzu7VPtjAAeFJQFqNl-vrIVA/s1600/Rapunzel+ready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2sSeNoTh6xQIutfrH9oA8dl64-OX1w8xLHXRfmM2LOYxsEFHNTcEKZoTHOiyRLW9rhNJ6XU0TwXxmAyymNSfEypbbsBTtsYIQoKt649PYOQD0nItHpbBzu7VPtjAAeFJQFqNl-vrIVA/s1600/Rapunzel+ready.jpg" height="640" width="460" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Rapunzel syndrome </b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2sSeNoTh6xQIutfrH9oA8dl64-OX1w8xLHXRfmM2LOYxsEFHNTcEKZoTHOiyRLW9rhNJ6XU0TwXxmAyymNSfEypbbsBTtsYIQoKt649PYOQD0nItHpbBzu7VPtjAAeFJQFqNl-vrIVA/s1600/Rapunzel+ready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">What does Rapunzel do with her hair? In this story she
doesn't let it down the tower for the prince to climb. Oh no, in this story
Rapunzel pulls her hair out and eats it! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The medical terms for these
psychiatric disorders are <b>trichotillomania</b> (pull one's hair out) and <b>trichophagia</b>
(eat hair). Unfortunately for our stomach, hair is not digestible, so it forms
balls (yes, like cats' hair balls) which increase in size and can lead to
obstruction of the gastrointestinal track. It is called Rapunzel syndrome when
the balls form a tail that runs down from the stomach to the intestine. Imagine
that the tail would represent Rapunzel's long plait. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Patients with Rapunzel
syndrome present symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, constipation,
diarrhoea and weight loss. It is a life-threatening condition when not
diagnosed in time. Surgery is performed to remove the hair ball. However, this must
be combined with psychological treatment to stop recurring episodes. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't
want to show any actual photos so instead here is a cute-looking Rapunzel. You
can see the real stuff by looking at the scientific articles referenced at the
end of the post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Cutaneous horns</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQo6V5a6O2iZMZ2-F_ERt8QCOUY2l0LcAgWIr3B4g3BFKzTA45dFT8LxbcqnVXZ7LDNhMUT_Ktn1RqL7p-YWv66px59bllSG8GQXrrBwljt5CVc3gw283MvQFDt7H2xkirvxlIdBYIpcA/s1600/Mary+Davis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQo6V5a6O2iZMZ2-F_ERt8QCOUY2l0LcAgWIr3B4g3BFKzTA45dFT8LxbcqnVXZ7LDNhMUT_Ktn1RqL7p-YWv66px59bllSG8GQXrrBwljt5CVc3gw283MvQFDt7H2xkirvxlIdBYIpcA/s1600/Mary+Davis.jpg" height="400" width="288" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQo6V5a6O2iZMZ2-F_ERt8QCOUY2l0LcAgWIr3B4g3BFKzTA45dFT8LxbcqnVXZ7LDNhMUT_Ktn1RqL7p-YWv66px59bllSG8GQXrrBwljt5CVc3gw283MvQFDt7H2xkirvxlIdBYIpcA/s1600/Mary+Davis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I've only seen cartoons of humans with horns, or characters
in movies. But actually, some people do grow what is known as <i>cornu cutaneum</i>, or cutaneous horns. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">These
horns are made up of compacted <b>keratin</b>, which is the protein that forms our
hair and nails. As opposed to animal horns, human horns don't have bone as part
of their structure. The horns grow on sun-exposed areas like the scalp, face,
ears, nose, arms and dorsum of hands. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I guess people who grow horns must be concerned
about their appearance but that is the least to their worries. Horns can be a
sign of malignancy, for example some form of skin cancer like malignant
<a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/melanoma/">melanoma</a>. Needless to say, early diagnosis is essential to prevent malignancy
and to help patients with the mental stress. Surgical removal is the treatment
of choice. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To illustrate this I have found a picture of a horned lady, but if you
want to </span><span style="font-size: large;">see the proper horns, refer to the original research articles in the
reference list.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bearded Ladies</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVRQNbfOYweCBEeahxLXeVlchhaF7Xn0vYPEinY0MWfxfecn4zE9tJ_yEMeWHYS9bWOrNFRvnDPa2vxIcw3q9m7kvEKhOqE2Rldr5Jj4mv9_Vg6l3w7Ociqp2h5hzaGNXlp4z2LdVfok/s1600/Pastrana+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVRQNbfOYweCBEeahxLXeVlchhaF7Xn0vYPEinY0MWfxfecn4zE9tJ_yEMeWHYS9bWOrNFRvnDPa2vxIcw3q9m7kvEKhOqE2Rldr5Jj4mv9_Vg6l3w7Ociqp2h5hzaGNXlp4z2LdVfok/s1600/Pastrana+2.jpg" height="640" width="441" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVRQNbfOYweCBEeahxLXeVlchhaF7Xn0vYPEinY0MWfxfecn4zE9tJ_yEMeWHYS9bWOrNFRvnDPa2vxIcw3q9m7kvEKhOqE2Rldr5Jj4mv9_Vg6l3w7Ociqp2h5hzaGNXlp4z2LdVfok/s1600/Pastrana+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">I left the saddest case of all to the end. I've heard of
stories about “bearded ladies” performing at the circus. However, this bearded
lady was real. Her name was Julia Pastrana and she was Mexican. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Not only did
she have lots of facial hair, including a beard, but her jaw was deformed
giving her a simian appearance. Julia suffered from genetic disorders known as
<b>hypertrichosis</b> (excessive hair) and <b>gingival hyperplasia</b> (abnormal growth of
the jaws). </span><span style="font-size: large;">This story is sad because Julia did not receive any treatments;
instead her husband exhibited her around Europe like at the circus. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Treatments
for hypertrichosis involve hair removal and/or drug therapy to slow hair
growth, and surgery is used to help with the aesthetics of overgrown jaws. As
with the other two conditions, psychological counselling is also needed in
cases like this. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And now comes the creepy part of the story. After her death,
Julia's crazy husband had her embalmed by a Russian professor. As if it
had not been enough to be paraded in life, her husband kept showing her embalmed
body for years. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I must admit that the professor did an amazing work as
the final result was incredible: If you look at this photo you would think that
it was her in real life. Isn't it creepy?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>References:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1645262/">Julia Pastrana:The bearded lady</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016093270300139X">Victorian spectacle: Julia Pastrana, the bearded and hairy female</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC421749/">Cutaneous horns: are these lesions as innocent as they seem to be?</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1748681513004774">Mythology to reality: Case report on a giant cutaneous horn of the scalp in an African American female</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3263132/">Cutaneous horns in an African population</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24629918">Trichophagia and trichobezoar</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3812444/">Rapunzel syndrome: A rare presentation with multiple small intestinal intussusceptions</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022346812005878">The surgical management of Rapunzel syndrome</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12444804">Causes and management of hypertrichosis</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3118079/">Idiopathic gingival enlargement and its management</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The larval period in the monarch butterflies' life cycle is very
important. This is because larvae obtain the materials that will be used for the
formation of wings during metamorphosis. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A team of researchers in USA wanted to
find out whether diet deprivation had an effect on the shape and size of the butterflies' wings. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimj1rD7DYcwarTK53qKxG96bXxHpifYemHuXTCueD9r3EADaaykIpIETcNNhEb7_QXPWxUr8XI8Ff1dJKq9ypy9KR9Ymdnt-a981NfEGD2RRvI8TCreZ6RnA6iSecAIbOtOWF1k9J85iE/s1600/mariposa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimj1rD7DYcwarTK53qKxG96bXxHpifYemHuXTCueD9r3EADaaykIpIETcNNhEb7_QXPWxUr8XI8Ff1dJKq9ypy9KR9Ymdnt-a981NfEGD2RRvI8TCreZ6RnA6iSecAIbOtOWF1k9J85iE/s1600/mariposa.jpg" height="507" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Why are the wing characteristics so important in this
species? You probably know that monarch butterflies migrate long distances.
Every fall they migrate from Canada and the north of the USA, to Mexico. Then
in spring they migrate back. Hence, the
morphology of the wings is vital for their flight efficiency.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0093492">In this study</a>, late-stage larvae went through a food
restriction period of 24 (low stress) or 48 hours (high stress). After
metamorphosis, the team used image analysis to measure the length and width of
the wings. The team found that the wings of butterflies in the high stress
group were considerably small compared to the ones in the control and low
stress groups. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The researchers also studied coloration of the wings, like
the intensity of the orange and black pigmentation. However, their results in
this case were not very clear and require further experiments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The fact that restricted diet has an effect on the size of
the wings is an important finding, especially because the butterflies’ food
(milkweed) can be limited. <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1752-4598.2012.00196.x/abstract">For example</a>, due to over use of herbicide milkweed
has been declining in the agricultural fields over the last decade. And sadly,
this loss is already reducing the size of the monarch population. The smaller
the population size the more vulnerable a species becomes to other survival
threats. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVqEVcYHw4357T0_hDXGHuwEV-L28rULvhL74MAHVhzb0uSm2dtwrl2w0YCqHrPSc-ulbUgrLGtprGGTk11-xpbeGrVsy8Oq4jhcJJlBDLYrfs5-dfCv1OOzxGprxvePXEVccaky99ds/s1600/milkweed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVqEVcYHw4357T0_hDXGHuwEV-L28rULvhL74MAHVhzb0uSm2dtwrl2w0YCqHrPSc-ulbUgrLGtprGGTk11-xpbeGrVsy8Oq4jhcJJlBDLYrfs5-dfCv1OOzxGprxvePXEVccaky99ds/s1600/milkweed.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">You can find various monarch conservation sites on the web.
I have added a link to a few at the end. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Let's help the butterflies!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">References:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0093492">Does skipping a meal matter to a butterfly's appearance?</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1752-4598.2012.00196.x/abstract">Milkweed loss in agricultural fields because of herbicide use</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Conservation of monarch butterflies: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flightofthebutterflies.com/conservation-preservation/">Flight of the Butterflies </a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.monarchwatch.org/">Monarch watch</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.monarchlab.org/Links.aspx">University of Minnesota Monarch Lab</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/monarch-butterfly">WWF Monarch Butterfly </a></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-6506969918672260292014-08-11T19:46:00.000+01:002014-08-11T19:46:30.830+01:00A poisonous carrot?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I wrote this post right after reading Katherine Webb’s latest
novel "<a href="http://www.harpercollins.com/9780062234469/a-half-forgotten-song">A half-forgotten song</a>".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Poison hemlock (<i>Conium
maculatum</i>) is a very common weed distributed worldwide. And believe it or
not, it belongs to the carrot family! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">You can find hemlock on river banks, or in woodland, pastures and waste ground. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It is believed that
the juice of this plant was used to execute criminals in ancient Greece. It is
also thought to have been the poison that killed Socrates in 399 BC. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zbR5WwFzH-7Wmv-5x_N5kvsTbVMnqbImx_SEKgIssDEu01RNDqiOYJexn0l2yA6162GkMsBtf7tEbXog-ctsWJLFSkObiuwj_LJPf51a_xQOo0SdhiUUzW_hvs_WnLS6cju8gRTi8ag/s1600/hemlock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zbR5WwFzH-7Wmv-5x_N5kvsTbVMnqbImx_SEKgIssDEu01RNDqiOYJexn0l2yA6162GkMsBtf7tEbXog-ctsWJLFSkObiuwj_LJPf51a_xQOo0SdhiUUzW_hvs_WnLS6cju8gRTi8ag/s1600/hemlock.jpg" height="539" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hemlock contains chemicals called alkaloids which are found
in fruits, vegetables and flowers. Concentration of the alkaloids is what makes
the plants more or less poisonous. The concentration depends on many factors
like the variety and age of the plant, as well as the environmental conditions
in which it grows. In 2013, up to eight alkaloids had been identified in poison
hemlock, some of which had also been demonstrated to be toxic and to induce foetal
malformations. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hemlock acts on the central nervous system causing symptoms
like trembling, dilation of pupils, salivation, nausea and convulsions. Very
bad poisoning can also cause coma and death due to respiratory failure. I was astonished
to read that some of the cases of human poisoning happened when people mistook
the hemlock leaves for parsley, or the roots for parsnips, or the seeds for
anise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But not everything is scary about hemlock. It was used in
ancient medicine as a sedative, analgesic and antispasmodic. Even an article
published in 1997 describes its use in homeopathy. Indians from the north of
Mexico also use hemlock to stupefy fish and help their economy during low crop
season. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzRUO_59ixa_VySZvuBp4P3A9oV-XL2t8pluw1P4RvA9Q76oV3q8_fcNdYskNtBJdHxthkIYTE6pjyFOxANJj-YA12EXCVllTrVycpuOEUK5IgwZiAB4BQ9OeciEPAVVdVtRswlzUo3M/s1600/book+sin+margen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzRUO_59ixa_VySZvuBp4P3A9oV-XL2t8pluw1P4RvA9Q76oV3q8_fcNdYskNtBJdHxthkIYTE6pjyFOxANJj-YA12EXCVllTrVycpuOEUK5IgwZiAB4BQ9OeciEPAVVdVtRswlzUo3M/s1600/book+sin+margen.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hopefully this post has sparked your interest in Katherine’s
novel. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Read it, I thoroughly enjoyed it!</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
References:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15234067">Poison hemlock (<i>Conium maculatum</i>)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15161174">Biomedical applications of poisonous plant research</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15955542">Hemlock alkaloids from Socrates to poison aloes</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24339034">Poisonous Plants: Effects on embryo and foetal development</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23848825">Plant toxins that affect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: A review</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-70709759705666421992014-08-11T16:48:00.001+01:002014-08-11T16:49:10.676+01:00When "Today is all you have"<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I have just read the most amazing thriller! “<a href="http://www.sjwatson-books.com/">Before I go to sleep</a>” by S J Watson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Christine Lucas, the main character, suffers from a rare
kind of amnesia. She can remember a few things from her childhood and early
years but nothing else. On top of that, she can’t form any new memories. Every
day is a new day for her, the memories she manages to recall or things she does
throughout the day, vanish completely once she goes to sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This condition sounds horrible. The only type of amnesia I
had heard of is the one where people can’t remember who they are, what happened
to them, etc. I had never heard of people whose brains cannot generate new
memories at all! This prompted a search in the literature to learn more about
amnesia.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpKwTJxwwN96bspbJJL5szeIq0nTRZkZWz1cNQ-ZsLu9CUJZI0pGhIap6rDt0w8RpvdvNyugdWEq_GIVhzLxo745-oT78SEImDrT8T5ZCywyTnkao_LBvyTczSC04HUcmMUeKgd4WaZY/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpKwTJxwwN96bspbJJL5szeIq0nTRZkZWz1cNQ-ZsLu9CUJZI0pGhIap6rDt0w8RpvdvNyugdWEq_GIVhzLxo745-oT78SEImDrT8T5ZCywyTnkao_LBvyTczSC04HUcmMUeKgd4WaZY/s1600/Picture1.jpg" height="640" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Amnesia is the deterioration of memory. It can be caused by
physical damage to the brain, for example after hitting your head in an
accident, or it can be linked to some psychiatric disorders. It can be due to
medical conditions, like vitamin B1 deficiency, or to consumption of alcohol or
drugs. It gets even more complicated when you look at the different types (or variants)
there are. <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)61304-4/fulltext">This review</a> from The Lancet summarises all of them quite well. I was
interested in the variants related to Christine Lucas’s case which are:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <strong>Retrograde amnesia</strong>: when you cannot
remember information that you are supposed to know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <strong>Anterograde amnesia</strong>: when you cannot
form new memories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Research in amnesia has
increased. Imaging techniques such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) are
helping to understand what happens in the damaged brain, in particular which
structures become deteriorated. This is not an easy task because there are many
structures that are involved in different brain regions. Pharmacologically
speaking, there is not yet a treatment that can be considered successful. Some
drugs have been tried, but the evidence is still lacking. There are areas of
research that still need to be explored, for example, the role that our genes
and the environment may play.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">On the brighter side, a group at
the University of Bristol studied the <a href="http://www.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncir.2013.00052/full">formation of memories in the tiny fruit fly</a>. They chose to use this insect as a model because the fruit fly brain is
similar to the human brain in regards to neuronal function and responses. They found
that the protein CASK was crucial in this process. CASK belongs to a family of
proteins that modify and regulate the function of other proteins. In this
particular case, CASK helps another protein called CaMKII, which is known as “the
memory switch”, to function properly in memory formation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_dVMIoZxnyTNCygMAlmNKlXKwpi72nzrOGMSqoB6nNVxoRSbkiwGM92p3Zykc12XqxcuTc0q-2BHXF87xA6taGPRa_JfT_NOCM1JpcB8THVZCR_6zgL3wV-fF_257gEtY_O-6u5U1Y8/s1600/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_dVMIoZxnyTNCygMAlmNKlXKwpi72nzrOGMSqoB6nNVxoRSbkiwGM92p3Zykc12XqxcuTc0q-2BHXF87xA6taGPRa_JfT_NOCM1JpcB8THVZCR_6zgL3wV-fF_257gEtY_O-6u5U1Y8/s1600/Picture2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Thanks to studies like this,
scientists have now a better understanding of how memories are made. Certainly,
this new information will help them to find possible therapies for memory loss.
I am happy to know that there’s light at the end of the tunnel for those suffering
from amnesia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">References:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)61304-4/fulltext"><span style="font-size: large;">Amnesic disorders</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17470210802215335?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed&#.Uwn3yfl_s80"><span style="font-size: large;">Understanding anterograde amnesia</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncir.2013.00052/full"><span style="font-size: large;">CASK and CaMKII function during <i>Drosophila</i> memory formation</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-49321656213138933352014-07-03T11:41:00.001+01:002015-04-07T15:20:54.681+01:00I NEED to get a tan!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Someone commented on twitter that
sunbeds should be banned. This got me thinking, should everything that is
harmful for us be banned as well? If that ever happened I’d be very surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I looked for research on the
dangers of sunbeds and sunscreen protection, and found two recent reports from
journals that are highly regarded by the scientific community. In a nutshell
here is what I found:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A group of researchers in America
was wondering whether sun-seekers just loved to be tanned all the time or if
there was something else lying beneath. Apparently, the reason might be
addiction! <a href="http://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674%2814%2900611-4"><b>Their study</b> </a>performed <b>in mice</b>
showed that <b>UV exposure</b> not only <b>increased</b> their <b>risk of cancer</b>, but also had an <b>analgesic effect</b>. This effect was due to the release, after UV stimulation,
of <b><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3104618/">beta-endorphin</a></b>, a substance in
our body that makes us feel less pain. Thus, beta-endorphin was the culprit
that made the mice <b>addicted to UV
exposure</b>. If it is indeed an addiction, this might explain why people keep
using sunbeds and seeking a tan despite all the information about the risks of skin cancer. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJ8b31SGenciN_wHchN-MgmABbTBHghWSC_Mrdg-t5B3XpRBqZ2G43tOd7oreb9Io9gdGCamXxYk95eQbb9isIi3-EkVrbvfcMf9lA9PQrCuGGk487gsz7F_yyFlNMN6m3bJKbU4yACs/s1600/MOUSE3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJ8b31SGenciN_wHchN-MgmABbTBHghWSC_Mrdg-t5B3XpRBqZ2G43tOd7oreb9Io9gdGCamXxYk95eQbb9isIi3-EkVrbvfcMf9lA9PQrCuGGk487gsz7F_yyFlNMN6m3bJKbU4yACs/s1600/MOUSE3.jpg" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Talking about skin cancer,<b> <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature13298.html">another study</a></b> from a group in the UK found that sunscreen delayed UV-induced <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/type/melanoma/"><b>melanoma</b></a> <b>in mice</b>; however it <b>did not stop it</b>. The researchers
suggested at the end of their report that <b>sunscreen
should be used</b> <b>IN ADDITION</b> to
other protective measures. For example, wearing hats and sunglasses, staying in
the shade as much as possible, and avoid walking at times when the UV rays are
more dangerous.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">You might want to check out <a href="http://www.nivea.co.uk/experience/ext/en-GB/CRUK-burn-risk-app?dpl=deeplink-cruksunburnriskapp"><b>this app</b></a> by <a href="http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2014/07/01/will-i-burn-our-new-online-app-helps-you-predict-todays-sunburn-risk/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cancerresearchuk%2FSHhE+%28Cancer+Research+UK+-+Science+Update%29"><b>Cancer Research UK</b></a> and Nivea Sun to predict your sunburn risk each day.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So what if instead of banning sunbeds
we started considering UV-seeking an addiction? For example, linking these two
studies, the next thing that will be very interesting to know is whether sunscreen
could help reducing addiction to UV-exposure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Over to you scientists!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>References:</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674%2814%2900611-4">Skin beta-endorphin mediatesaddiction to UV light</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature13298.html"><span style="font-size: large;">Ultraviolet radiation acceleratesBRAF-driven melanomagenesis by targeting TP53</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/cancer-news/news-report/european-commission-issues-sunscreen-recommendations">European Commission issues sunscreen recommendations</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/cancer-news/press-release/new-clues-to-skin-cancer-development-show-sunscreen-is-not-enough"><span style="font-size: large;">New clues to skin cancer development show sunscreen is not enough</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn25771-sunbathing-may-have-similar-effects-to-drug-addiction.html#.U7F-3fldVjS"><span style="font-size: large;">Sunbathing may have similar effects to drug addiction</span></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-51448554118810865402014-06-12T20:23:00.001+01:002015-04-07T15:41:12.953+01:00My journey as a science student<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A recent
blog post by <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/sifting-the-evidence/2014/jun/11/writing-up-the-home-straight-of-a-phd">Suzi Gage</a> in The Guardian, where she talks about her PhD thesis
writing, made me realise that I had not written anything about my personal
experience as a science student.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I did my
first degree and my PhD in the polluted, full of traffic, chaotic, but always
dear to me, Mexico City. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">For my bachelor’s degree I had to endure four and half
years of lectures and lab practicals. I must also say that our timetables were
from 7 am to 10 pm. I had to get up at 5 am every morning, drive through crazy
traffic and be ready for the first lectures at 7 am. I got home in the evening
at about 11 pm, crashed in bed and tried not to dream about what I had to do
the next day! Needless to say, I did not have free weekends, as there was no
spare time in the weekdays for me to do the homework, lab reports and exam
revision. After all those years, I was still not done! I had to find a research
project so I could write a thesis. Yes. A thesis for a first degree! That’s
what we do in Mexico anyway. So I spent yet another year in a lab doing
research and writing up. By the time I had a date for my viva; five and a half
years had passed since I first set foot in the University. Why did nobody tell
me that there were countries like England where I could get a degree in only
three years? Argh!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I still
don’t understand what made me want to go on for postgraduate degrees. I must have
been crazy or really in love with science. After all, love is blind. My Master’s
degree went OK as by then I had discovered the wonderful fairy land of the
English. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">So after one year I had a postgrad! </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxgH-9NkOIRyXTK5q8mXS8UzmBwKtQGt8irF6OJ_iRB3Kz7IB5ZCgx3GKs-7ewkz4nE8T23CtGQG07QqIYwNXs7NGwzzegNbxBS8Nd5ZL46GEE_BATljFAl_QEojTuNZ1ND9n-nNPyv0/s1600/wbparty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxgH-9NkOIRyXTK5q8mXS8UzmBwKtQGt8irF6OJ_iRB3Kz7IB5ZCgx3GKs-7ewkz4nE8T23CtGQG07QqIYwNXs7NGwzzegNbxBS8Nd5ZL46GEE_BATljFAl_QEojTuNZ1ND9n-nNPyv0/s1600/wbparty.jpg" height="521" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Back in Mexico for my PhD I had to
spend four years in the lab. At least this was more or less the same in
England, so it was not that bad. The problem then was the lack of money. I hear
my colleagues in England complain about how they can’t buy this super expensive
piece of equipment, or how things would be easier if they could afford this or
that. If they could see the lab where I did my PhD, either they would not
believe that publications come out of there, or they would think their labs are
heaven! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The best word I can use to describe that lab is “bare”. We had to
prepare everything from scratch and we had to use very old fashioned second hand
equipment. I remember we could not even afford a proper inverted microscope for
cell culture; my supervisor got a normal one, put it upside down, and somehow
got it working. Now, that’s what I call creativity! (I wish I had taken a photo
of that microscope!) A while ago we were talking about
things that hinder creativity. Some people said that lack of money stopped you
from being creative. I totally disagree with that. First-hand experience has
taught me that when you work in an economically -deprived environment, you
become more resourceful and you find ways to create things with what you have.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisE0qFD_U12fTR457toYcLj-L3p9S1gF6_PDtuoAmBk44DOvQdsoBHpqlTAk6o7i-a0dmQOa5iBg2ZcQLi3Jdx3_HkYM3vxWDjCUhQWCJncFTIup1hc3806d2703a60e0ighOO83EJlnc/s1600/cell+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisE0qFD_U12fTR457toYcLj-L3p9S1gF6_PDtuoAmBk44DOvQdsoBHpqlTAk6o7i-a0dmQOa5iBg2ZcQLi3Jdx3_HkYM3vxWDjCUhQWCJncFTIup1hc3806d2703a60e0ighOO83EJlnc/s1600/cell+sign.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Finally the
day of the viva came. As Suzi said in her post, in some countries a viva is
more of a public thing. In Mexico we can invite whoever we want. Family and
friends are there to support you. We give our presentation and then we get
asked questions by the assessors. I had three assessors for my first degree and
five for my PhD. </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It is scary and stressful, especially because you don’t want
to make a fool of yourself in front of everyone, but at the same time is
reassuring to see all the friendly faces. It is a great joy to share the moment
when they tell you the results with the people closest to your heart. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I’ll
never forget that day; the joyful faces of my parents and the relief that
it was finally over. I also had great opportunities, like working in a lab at
<a href="http://www.nih.gov/">NIH</a> for a while, which was mind-boggling, publishing my work and meeting lots
of great people. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Still, sometimes I wonder, if I could go back in
time, would I go through it all again?</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-76907436957706979982014-05-05T18:23:00.002+01:002014-05-05T18:23:55.700+01:00A tour around Scientific Paris<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Paris is one of my favourite cities. I have been there countless times. Thanks to a book I have just read, I now realise that as a scientist I have missed all the important places to visit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/grandes-expriences-scientifiques-Paris-barom%C3%A8tre/dp/284096810X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398957618&sr=1-1&keywords=frederic+borel">The great scientific experiments in Paris</a>” by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xza9ls_l-insolite-du-jour-la-decouverte-du-paris-scientifique-dans-paris-est-a-vous-24-avril_news">Frédéric Borel</a>, is amazing just to look at. The pages are glossy (like in magazines!) and the illustrations are colourful. Someone I know described it as “The Lonely Planet Guide to Scientific Paris” because it tells you where these experiments took place, where to find commemorative stuff, and even where the scientists lived and had their labs! Don’t worry if you are not a physicist or a chemist, there’s an explanation of the experiments at the end of each entry.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-yUicdDKnJwuC69G3-RxdjGXOUiqPZVw5AvD8GZRLvaTreOVYB0YXLIan9Li_NoSEE21nhY3lAmdafwBV6pPSpOy_hWoeO8NIeQ3jjYTtchw2Xvxr5sch6-8rGpqWgyhRZajSMScjZs/s1600/book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-yUicdDKnJwuC69G3-RxdjGXOUiqPZVw5AvD8GZRLvaTreOVYB0YXLIan9Li_NoSEE21nhY3lAmdafwBV6pPSpOy_hWoeO8NIeQ3jjYTtchw2Xvxr5sch6-8rGpqWgyhRZajSMScjZs/s1600/book.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But what really caught my attention was the mention of wonderful women who played a role in the scientific discoveries. Three of them were wives of eminent scientists. We have a phrase in Mexico that goes something like “Behind every great man there’s a great woman”. It is easy to imagine that a scientist like Lavoisier had a clever wife who put up with him playing in his lab, became his assistant and then learned chemistry herself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So let’s start with <b>Madame Lavoisier</b>, whose complete name was Marie Anne Pierrette Paulze. Being educated in a convent, she married Lavoisier when she was about 13 years old. The family came from a noble background, so they were able to build their own chemistry lab. Marie became more interested in her husband’s scientific experiments and she managed to get formal training. Together they worked as a team in which Lavoisier was the head scientist and Marie became his assistant. Sadly, their happiness was halted by the French Revolution; Lavoisier was one of the many geniuses whose heads succumbed to the guillotine. But as a widow Marie did not give up, she published Lavoisier’s memoirs containing all their contributions to chemistry. Thanks to this, their work did not get lost and lived to be part of the foundations of chemistry.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNl-3iX6ZmkTq36jiR8Apa5vlsBT7aXsCOYDnG2zhSVgoL0wce-lqDTIuBrimOA6oSLq9gKjuG79t8clta7UBKn9mo8SPAgt5RU_TkC7eNkMmqA98HdldjeFY4hynABEgxSHddV3ROn8/s1600/lavoisier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNl-3iX6ZmkTq36jiR8Apa5vlsBT7aXsCOYDnG2zhSVgoL0wce-lqDTIuBrimOA6oSLq9gKjuG79t8clta7UBKn9mo8SPAgt5RU_TkC7eNkMmqA98HdldjeFY4hynABEgxSHddV3ROn8/s1600/lavoisier.jpg" height="640" width="596" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On to another woman who, like Marie, became a widow. Her name was... She is known as <b>Madame Lebon</b>, wife of Philippe Lebon, who invented gas lamps and heaters. The name used for those types of lamps was “thermolampes”. After his death, his wife continued to present and demonstrate the gas lamps models to the public. Like Marie, she also fought to get the recognition of her husband’s contribution to the invention of internal combustion engines. I could not find more online information; perhaps my searching skills are not that good. I’d love to learn more about her, or at least know her name! So if anyone has more information or ideas on how to find it please let me know.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGrseMmUfbGCiFGQoauX-Uq5FAwsOl1UXb9f-RrWhD0ZbvugNy6ib8ubZ_kgMLhuB0Meq9OkmMwFjD2sVk8XjdGvKF95_F1IdKMQQYojCMDTeae5B3aEpMMNNqfv72whg7Hv2y8ji7hA/s1600/lebon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGrseMmUfbGCiFGQoauX-Uq5FAwsOl1UXb9f-RrWhD0ZbvugNy6ib8ubZ_kgMLhuB0Meq9OkmMwFjD2sVk8XjdGvKF95_F1IdKMQQYojCMDTeae5B3aEpMMNNqfv72whg7Hv2y8ji7hA/s1600/lebon.jpg" height="500" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next on the list is a very brave woman, <b>Jeanne Geneviève Labrosse</b>. She was a balloonist and the first female parachutist! She met André-Jacques Garnerin (also a balloonist), became his pupil and eventually his wife. She was amongst the first females to fly in a balloon and was the very first to descend using her husband’s frameless parachute. I have also read that it was her who filed the patent for such parachute on behalf of André. As a couple they were very popular in Europe, they even toured England giving demonstrations. Still, I am intrigued as to why Jeanne became passionate about balloons and parachutes. Was it because she was genuinely interested in them or because she fell in love with a balloonist?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqwoSVBFpRqY9I51y2oKkqoPpg6O3HGweoEZEFKykZKQRlUYk2Jk5xGtkkSLMF42TgyHh9C3UsbzYaLSmb6p5LHbyuhfbWpaPWELpStfqKVr76HkgvVuUrF9vB-VIWjPGeqT4K7n5dD4/s1600/genevieve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqwoSVBFpRqY9I51y2oKkqoPpg6O3HGweoEZEFKykZKQRlUYk2Jk5xGtkkSLMF42TgyHh9C3UsbzYaLSmb6p5LHbyuhfbWpaPWELpStfqKVr76HkgvVuUrF9vB-VIWjPGeqT4K7n5dD4/s1600/genevieve.jpg" height="404" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And last but not least, Elisabeth de Riquet de Caraman-Chimay, otherwise known as The <b>Countess Greffulhe</b>. Unlike the previous three women, Elisabeth was not married to a scientist but she was deeply interested in inventions. As faith would have it, she met someone called Edouard Branly, who happened to be working in the field of wireless telegraphy. Edouard did not come from a rich family and could not afford to build a lab. However, by meeting this wonderful lady, he got financial help to continue with his research. Not only that, but she also promoted his work and, according to this book, persuaded him to invent the remote control!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIEoxvMpGfhc31huokFpFZgTuuhXbws6KWbXJc6h4zqfGSj0V1-IMG0dUOkhp6Su936pZZeD7RyGwwg4VFuqbykZUsK_Y_3fLMKArz_lAF48iO1NJYCE4t0qvjR1IqEuI49V5_N-O2KI/s1600/comtesse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIEoxvMpGfhc31huokFpFZgTuuhXbws6KWbXJc6h4zqfGSj0V1-IMG0dUOkhp6Su936pZZeD7RyGwwg4VFuqbykZUsK_Y_3fLMKArz_lAF48iO1NJYCE4t0qvjR1IqEuI49V5_N-O2KI/s1600/comtesse.jpg" height="576" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope I have motivated you to read the book and to know more about these brave, clever and wonderful women. And remember, next time you visit Paris, don’t buy a travel guide, take this book along instead!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-55678342403910893522014-04-08T15:44:00.000+01:002015-07-09T11:42:01.903+01:00From idea to discovery: working in technology transfer<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Tommy Rennison, from <a href="http://www.cancertechnology.co.uk/">Cancer Research Technology</a>, gave us an insight into what working in technology transfer is like.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">With a PhD and postdoctoral experience in cancer research, Tommy said he was not certain whether he wanted to leave academic research or to stay in. If you find yourself in a similar position, you might want to have a go at what he did next. He actually <b>TRIED</b> different jobs and spent time shadowing people. That’s how he found out about technology transfer.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Cancer Research Technology (<b>CRT</b>) is owned by the big charity <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/">Cancer Research UK</a>. It manages all the Intellectual Property arising from the charity’s funded research. Up to date, they have three marketed drugs that have made it to the clinic and are now being used in patients.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><u><b>Stages of technology transfer</b></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Research funding and Invention</b>: These are the sages where you communicate with the scientists. You have to help them identify the big opportunities in their research. Keep in mind that an idea that is talked about in an office can become a real discovery!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Protection</b>: This is the stage where you communicate with legal representatives. You have to convince your peers about the potential of the invention and file a patent. You have to liaise with patent lawyers and mediate between them and the scientists.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Marketing, Licensing and Monitoring</b>: These are the stages where you communicate with potential partners, for example venture capitalists, pharma or biotech industries. You have to negotiate the terms and ensure successful development and patient benefit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">The <a href="http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2013/07/18/the-story-of-temozolomide/">Temozolomide</a> story is an example of one of CRT’s big successes. Temozolomide is used to treat glioblastoma and has helped many people like Parminder, who is now cancer-free. You can read her account of how research changed her life <a href="http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2013/07/18/the-story-of-temozolomide/">here</a>.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsI0BL7AjvD9j3mE0BJEr-WP18HX4Xj8RvkFESPhfQI5OdpH17BphuVlYgpC4KvXL6LFwEMvZmVGbCLYVD8mBFA2xop-bvZq6_HlEFO8bLWSbqSN6sTtScnV8M0A3ld1WcJ4oAb3vVlDQ/s1600/parminder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsI0BL7AjvD9j3mE0BJEr-WP18HX4Xj8RvkFESPhfQI5OdpH17BphuVlYgpC4KvXL6LFwEMvZmVGbCLYVD8mBFA2xop-bvZq6_HlEFO8bLWSbqSN6sTtScnV8M0A3ld1WcJ4oAb3vVlDQ/s1600/parminder.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b><u>Is technology transfer for you?</u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">You will start as a “Project Development Manager” and get trained in the business aspect of the job. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">You end up having wider breath of science than you had as a researcher. This is because you’ll have to work in projects that are not necessarily related to your area of expertise.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">You get the <b>satisfaction</b> of helping a drug going to clinical trials and benefiting patients.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">If things don’t go according to plan, you can pick up transferable skills that you can use if you move sideways to other professions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b><u>Key skills</u></b> needed to join this profession: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> You have to be organised</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> You have to be able to see the big picture</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> You have to be a good communicator</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> You have to be passionate about science (all aspects, not only your area!)<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> You have to enjoy variety and most importantly</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> You have to LIKE PEOPLE</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">The <b>take-home messages</b> from Tommy were to study abroad if we have the chance and to <b>TRY</b>, not just research, other options if we are considering a career change.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">And if you think technology transfer might not be as brain-stimulating as lab research, check out Tommy’s concluding remark: “My brain has never worked so hard as when I started working with CRT”</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-50339196152540068992014-03-28T11:35:00.001+00:002015-04-07T15:22:11.315+01:00Why being a scientist is COOL<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have just visited a school where I talked to students
about my career and science careers in general. They asked me very interesting
questions that inspired me to write this post. </span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKgXkDDi4kWNWsZoJrQvZpFYmBNTeXZXLwai5HMUmE2lolkVw8AtCUi7hAnzIUFp1pWKqrX27DvX_0WsKtL_yfrbo0vTC77RgfLKb52QKUxZUzByoy4uSSuEzDhyphenhyphenIiQIOYMT0Cw_I8hE/s1600/sci+girl+frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKgXkDDi4kWNWsZoJrQvZpFYmBNTeXZXLwai5HMUmE2lolkVw8AtCUi7hAnzIUFp1pWKqrX27DvX_0WsKtL_yfrbo0vTC77RgfLKb52QKUxZUzByoy4uSSuEzDhyphenhyphenIiQIOYMT0Cw_I8hE/s1600/sci+girl+frame.jpg" height="640" width="577" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />BEING A SCIENTIST IS COOL BECAUSE:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>You can travel the world</b><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Scientists are always going to conferences, sometimes within
their countries and sometimes abroad. Also, as a scientist you can do part of
your research in another lab. For example, I did my degree in Mexico, I then
travelled to the USA to gain experience in some techniques, and now I am
working in the UK. I love travelling and embracing new cultures, this job has
allowed me to do that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Science is universal and has its own language</b><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is also related to the point above. Science follows the
same principles everywhere. It doesn't matter where you get your degree, you can move to a different country and work as a scientist there. For example, my
dad is a lawyer, he is great at what he does but law is different in different
countries. He could not just move from Mexico to the UK and be a lawyer here;
he would have to study again! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Careers in science are flexible</b><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If being in the lab is not very rewarding or you don't enjoy
it as much, as a scientist there are other things you can do. For example:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">* Are you good at communication? Then you can be on TV, or
write for a newspaper as a science journalist. You can also be a radio
presenter or work directly with the public. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">* If you like politics you can influence politicians and science
policy, you can even be an MP! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">* You can work in a charity organising events to raise money
for research, for example races, walks, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">* Do you like writing and correcting spelling mistakes? Then
you can work in a scientific journal, editing the articles that other scientists
want to publish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">* You can also organise the events that other scientists
attend, like the international conferences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">* If you like computers you can become a bioinformatician. Or
you can manage the web pages and social media accounts of the universities and
research centres. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">* And also, you can sell or manufacture reagents and equipment;
remember research could not be done without these! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">What skills do you need to be a scientist? From my personal
experience, I think <b>perseverance </b>is one of the most important ones. Experiments
in science don't work most of the time, you can't give up and you have to go
on. You also have to be <b>creative</b>, <b>good with numbers</b> and <b>like to analyse data</b>. And
finally, you have to <b>learn English</b> if it isn't you mother tongue. Science is written
mainly in English, international conferences are held in English, so there's no
escaping this one I'm afraid!</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am sure I have missed more areas where scientists work and
other skills that are also important. If you know of others why not add them to
the comments? You might also want to share your experiences on why being a
scientist is cool.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-7513058440833394402014-02-15T19:53:00.001+00:002015-04-07T15:41:41.077+01:00Hygiene and Alzheimer's disease - a Darwinian Medicine perspective<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I was born and grew up in Mexico City. Living now in
England, I have forgotten how often people suffer from gastrointestinal disease
in my home country. I always thought that being in contact with harmful
microbes was not very good, but I have been reading scientific articles that
tell otherwise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">For example, with the use of statistics, <a href="http://emph.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/08/11/emph.eot015.short?rss=1">this recent study</a> shows the relationship between hygiene and Alzheimer’s disease rates. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I’m sure you’re probably wondering what does hygiene have
to do with Alzheimer’s? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Alzheimer’s is a complicated disease with many faces. On
the immunological side, brains affected by Alzheimer’s tend to be highly
inflamed. Scientists have related this inflammation to a dysregulation of the
immunological system: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 14.2pt 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">After being in contact with microorganisms,
T-cells in our immunological system gain special features that allow them to regulate inflammatory
processes. This is known as immune stimulation. If you have low immune
stimulation, your regulatory T-cells may be deficient.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">In developing countries there are areas with very low
sanitation, unpaved roads and lack of drinking-water. Even the quality of the milk
can be an issue. I remember visiting my grandmother and waiting for the farmer
to bring the “fresh” milk he just got from the cows! The microbial diversity in such places is huge
compared to the urbanised areas in developed countries. By being continually
exposed to such microorganisms, people who live in developing countries are
constantly stimulating their immune system. The study concluded that this
constant stimulation may reduce the rates of Alzheimer’s disease. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqwVlF8rO4OZCwBvBCOe_BmN3L-IP4j4XaoQmDnqkRNp2C4ahUuR16pbkXnvSauHcK34aJwVUxlysS2_4SP2df3WZbXbkJvechGfNNSfSnXHe5TgB6GQvbaU9C4EOTp-75QOhyphenhyphenlMeWfY/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqwVlF8rO4OZCwBvBCOe_BmN3L-IP4j4XaoQmDnqkRNp2C4ahUuR16pbkXnvSauHcK34aJwVUxlysS2_4SP2df3WZbXbkJvechGfNNSfSnXHe5TgB6GQvbaU9C4EOTp-75QOhyphenhyphenlMeWfY/s1600/Picture1.jpg" height="536" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Other studies also show that immunological problems like
allergies, asthma and even multiple sclerosis are lower in developing versus
developed countries. Interestingly, the same happens when you compare people
that live in rural versus urbanised places. I was amazed when I read that
immigrants moving from a developed to a developing country can decrease their
Alzheimer’s risk. I am now wondering how my risk has changed because I moved
from Mexico to England!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Relating the level of sanitation and microbial exposure
to certain diseases is nothing new. This is called “the hygiene hypothesis”. It
has been used to explain some types of cancer and obesity and now is emerging
as a new tool to explore age-related pathologies. This hypothesis says that as
we evolved, our immunological system took its shape from being in contact with
all kinds of microbes. As global urbanisation began, the microbial diversity
started to disappear. Because we are no longer in contact with those
immune-stimulating agents our immunological systems can fail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The hygiene hypothesis is an example of <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071402/">Darwinian Medicine</a>. Medicine as we know it is focused on individual differences, it looks
for answers to questions like “why someone who smokes like a chimney never gets
lung cancer and someone who has never smoked gets it? On the other hand, Darwinian
Medicine wants to answer questions like “why could we ALL get lung cancer?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There’s obviously a lot more to Alzheimer’s than the
immunological side, for example genetic predisposition and environmental risk
factors. Still, I think this study is a good example of Darwinian Medicine and shows
an interesting trend. And like the authors state in their conclusions, it can
be helpful to predict the rate of Alzheimer’s worldwide in the near future. </span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Watch Dr Molly Fox from the University of Cambridge explaining the results of this study. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/zGwyVGNRuFI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Credit: </span><a href="http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/better-hygiene-in-wealthy-nations-may-increase-alzheimers-risk"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/better-hygiene-in-wealthy-nations-may-increase-alzheimers-risk</span></a></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">References:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://emph.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/08/11/emph.eot015.short?rss=1">Hygiene and the world distribution of Alzheimer's disease</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 18.39px;"><a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra020100">The effect of infections on susceptibility to autoimmune and allergic diseases</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/41/4/1012.long"><span style="font-size: large;">Geographical variation in dementia: systematic review with meta-analysis</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2222.2000.00800.x/abstract;jsessionid=720D28515ADBB1ABBFEC13FB44210F80.f03t04"><span style="font-size: large;">Farm environment in childhood prevents the development of allergies</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(97)07302-9/fulltext"><span style="font-size: large;">Worldwide variation in prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczema: ISAAC</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2249.2010.04120.x/abstract"><span style="font-size: large;">99th Dahlem Conference, Berlin 2009</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/21/2/199"><span style="font-size: large;">Darwin, medicine and cancer</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071402/"><span style="font-size: large;">How is Darwinian medicine useful?</span></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066630877959725601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841266840800670772.post-73049843061151022382013-11-23T09:33:00.000+00:002015-04-07T15:43:08.657+01:00Getting your paper published and Editorial careers — at NATURE<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">This post
covers the two main topics discussed by Dr Andrew Jermy, Senior Editor at
Nature, during his talk entitled <b>EDITORIAL
CAREERS AND PUBLISHING AT NATURE</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">PART 1: PUBLISHING AT NATURE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">With
acceptance rates of less than 10%, NATURE is a highly selective journal aiming
to “publish the best work in the field”.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Common misconceptions</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> regarding publishing in this journal
and why they are wrong:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Misconception:
You have to know the editor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Comment: After
submission, the editors deal with every manuscript in the same way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Misconception:
You have to have a big name on the paper. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Comment:
Their decisions are not based on the authors named on the paper. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Misconception:
It is a lottery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Comment: The
editors spend a lot of time making sure their decisions are consistent and
accurate, and discuss the manuscripts between them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Misconception:
The editorial process is a black box. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Comment: You
can ask any questions about the process at any time and they will explain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Thinking about submitting to Nature?</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Make sure you follow these
guidelines: </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Plan your work
carefully. Consider the scope of your project. Is your hypothesis truly novel
and groundbreaking? Think about this at the very early stages!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Pick the journal
carefully. Are similar papers in the journal? You don't want journals with
studies that are very similar because they lose their novelty factor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Be honest
and assess where your advance fits into the field. Is it really groundbreaking
or just important?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Do not submit
prematurely. Consider how mature the
study is before you submit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Submit in
format compatible with the journal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Read guide
to authors and comply with journal policies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Ask if in doubt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Write
informative <b>cover letter</b>:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36pt;"> State the background of the field of study</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36pt;"> State the key findings and why your study is important</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> Suggested/excluded
reviewers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> Avoid
grandstanding and cliché</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> Address
to the editor or journal (not ‘Dear Sir’)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">If you are
not sure whether your work is Nature material, it is worth having a look at the
“<b>Pre-submission enquiry</b>” where you
only send the title, the abstract and a brief description of your manuscript.
The main advantage is that decisions are made in one or two days, versus four
to five days for a full manuscript.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJeg2-7c9b7M6_OMminq0y00w64n3Ql7QAur5ZC9jgZ59B1qH_GH_AElArUHOtOCgJKYoutUO_K-ukKKj-aXzUw9qwoTGHSg3oHheluNawikXXkacefFTxQe6m25bRYFVcmZ5GBLohc0/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJeg2-7c9b7M6_OMminq0y00w64n3Ql7QAur5ZC9jgZ59B1qH_GH_AElArUHOtOCgJKYoutUO_K-ukKKj-aXzUw9qwoTGHSg3oHheluNawikXXkacefFTxQe6m25bRYFVcmZ5GBLohc0/s640/Picture1.jpg" height="640" width="550" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">If you have
decided to submit, here are some tips on <b>how
to write your paper</b>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Make sure it
is CLEARLY WRITTEN and describes what's in the study. Do not try to oversell
the story, cover the novelty appropriately instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Get the title
right: succinct, informative and tempting (no puns or questions). Andrew reads the
title, if the title is interesting then he reads the abstract, if the abstract
is interesting then he reads the paper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The abstract
needs to cover the background of the area, introduce the key findings and how
they are changing the field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">In the
introduction, the most important paragraph is the first one! Give the reader context to understand the
significance of your work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Use methods
and supplementary information sections for details.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Devise
figures to enhance story-telling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Explain, don't
hype, and avoid clichés (ultra, very, etc)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The conclusion
should offer something NEW.<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Ask a
colleague from unrelated field to read your manuscript to see if you can get
your message across.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Something
worth remembering every time we submit is the role that both the editor and the
referee play in assessing our manuscripts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The <b>role of the</b> <b>editor</b> is to assess the following<b>:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">If the study
is appropriate for the journal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The
importance to the field and the wider audience<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">If the
overall level of experimentation is appropriate to answer the questions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The depth of
the study (size and scope)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The compliance
with the editorial policies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The <b>role of the referee</b> is to look at:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The level of
experimentation focusing in detail on each experiment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The quality
of each piece of data presented<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">PART 2: EDITORIAL CAREERS AT NATURE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">There are
four main <b>entry points</b> for an editorial career at Nature:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">1. Copy Editor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">2. Journalist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">3. Commissioning Editor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">4. Manuscript Editor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Due to his
experience, Andrew talked about the Commissioning and the Manuscript Editor
roles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Commissioning Editor<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The
commission is based on the interest and novelty of the topic. Sources for new
ideas can come from:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Reading literature<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Conferences/lab visits<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Discussions with scientists and colleagues<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">General media<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">As a
commissioning editor, you collaborate with the authors by helping them to
improve their writing. You also discuss with them whether the figures in their
manuscript are necessary and if they are conveying the right message.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Once it has
passed through peer-review and the manuscript is ready to be published, you get
to do some fun things like:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Work closely with the art editor to get consistent and high
quality figures<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Work on the journal covers, for example exciting 3D ones!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">You also get
to develop your scientific writing (writing editorials and highlight new
stories) and to participate in special projects, for example social media.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">As with all
jobs, there are also some dull tasks like proof reading and web checking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Manuscript Editor<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The bulk of
the task in this job is to assess manuscripts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">On average you
get 10 new manuscripts every week! Andrew spends 20 to 25 hours per week
reading new manuscripts. He takes about 2 to 2.5 hours to read one, to look at the
literature and to assess it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Other tasks
are meeting with other editors to discuss what's happening in the other areas
of the company and manage the peer-review process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3A99clZeK9IqYFndrElky6WkNxL2YP-bHh8h7qRB_s6iCN6RwSqQDtVdinstRBEUvx3HVYZwtfDRwSZOIrubm3nOtgQox4QTAB2ZykT823wgvsdFVdVuipgaRvnW-UJcixxhyphenhyphenYnUOJso/s1600/editing+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3A99clZeK9IqYFndrElky6WkNxL2YP-bHh8h7qRB_s6iCN6RwSqQDtVdinstRBEUvx3HVYZwtfDRwSZOIrubm3nOtgQox4QTAB2ZykT823wgvsdFVdVuipgaRvnW-UJcixxhyphenhyphenYnUOJso/s640/editing+1.jpg" height="483" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Pros of the job: </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Intellectual
stimulation <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Dynamic and
informal job <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Good career
prospects </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Job security <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Connected with numerous fields <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Forefront of current research <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Popularity <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Family-friendly <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Travel to conferences <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Cons of the job:</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Heavy and constant work load<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Tight deadlines<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Unpopularity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Occasional confrontation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Salary: entry level position more or less equivalent to a post-doc's salary and senior level position equivalent to a lecturer's salary<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Some tasks can be quite mundane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Travel to conferences</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Getting a job in editorial:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Jobs are
normally advertised in scientific press (naturejobs.com).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Short term contracts
like maternity leave are a great way to get into the company. Then you know the
job and show that you can do it well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> “Name recognition” is important to get you to
the shortlist. For example, if you have met one of the editors at a conference
you can then e-mail him/her and ask about questions regarding the job, etc.</span> </span></div>
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