Software Identifying Blood Cell Shadows
Today’s activities were really interesting to me. I find the more engaging activities to be much more fun. The lab visits and question-and-answer style lectures are just that. I found the gadgets that take images of the shadows of blood cells to be really cool, but I don’t know how practical it is to use a cellphone for the portable version of the devise. A lot of developing countries are lacking cell service and would require a computer to email the pictures to a hospital, which is what a doctor would do if they just had the webcam version. It is somewhat useful in the way that a doctor could do a house-call and not have to bring a laptop, but most people today would go to the doctor’s office to see what is wrong. But the scientists only have to get their invention to the point when a company would buy the idea from them.
The lecture about the toxicology was also very informative. I had never thought about silver having an anti-bacterial property and now it makes complete sense. This is also the reason that it became a precious metal. Apparently since egypt man has known about silver’s properties and made plates and cups from them which would keep food for longer and keep water fresher than conventional materials. Also it gave rise to silverware which was generally more hygienic to eat with. But silver was not widespread throughout the public and was reserved for the royal and wealthy people throughout the western world for ages. Even though that doesn’t have very much to do with nano particles it was an “ah-ha” moment for me. Those types of things always stick in my head the most. Overall today was a pretty easygoing and the group also got out early which is a plus. Three days down.
Links:
http://medgadget.com/archives/2008/09/counting_infected_blood_cells.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080429135502.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090601110403.htm
http://www.azonano.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=1695
Image of Blood Cell Shadows
Nano-Tech Spill Resistant Lab Coat