A French teenage patient at Necker Children’s Hospital has been cured of a sickle cell disease thanks to a world-first procedure that has given hope to millions of people across the world who suffer from the same disease. For the first time ever, scientists managed to alter the genetic instructions within a patient’s bone marrow, forcing it to create more red-blood cells. With a sickle-cell disease, red blood cells go from being round-shaped to being shaped like sickles. These sickles can then bond together to block the flow of blood, leading to symptoms such as organ pain and failure. The doctor’s, having almost lost hope of saving the patient, removed the patient’s bone marrow and genetically altered it in a lab. This alteration allowed the bone-marrow to again produce red-blood cells.
In a recent story that took place on February 13th,, North Korea’s dictator, Kim Jong-un’s half brother was reportedly assassinated in Malaysia. However, a new story today reports that a North Korean diplomat has said that Kim Jong-nam died of heart failure. Ri-Tong-il shared that Kim Jong-nam suffered a series of heart complications which ultimately caused his sudden death. Apparently, the diplomat refused to acknowledge the fact that the deceased is the leader of North Korea’s half brother. The diplomat also provided no evidence to his claim on the death. R-Tong-il also called the deceased by the name Kim Chol– which is said to be an alias according to South Korean officials. Ri-Tong-il also challenged police to show proof of the nerve agent that Malaysia claimed was in the body. South Korea believes that North Korea is responsible for the assassination. Malaysian police are now trying to question seven men– two of which, North Korea will not allow authorities to speak with. Currently, North Korean officials are demanding to have the body handed over to them, but Malaysian officials refuse and are examining the body. Malaysia and North Korea’s relationship is becoming rough after the assassination of Kim Jon-nam.
In an island north of the eastern tip of Siberia, a small group of woolly mammoths became the last survivors of their once thriving species. They fell extinct 4,000 years ago, having endured for some 6,000 years after the mammoths of the mainland had died off. As a population dwindles, natural selection becomes less efficient at purging bad mutations, leading to loss of genes and a slow meltdown of the genome. The implication is that once numbers fall below a certain level, genetic decline is irreversible.The dwindling population during this 40,000 year period suffered a reduction in genetic diversity of some 20 percent, the Swedish team reported, suggesting that the lesser fitness of the Wrangel mammoths might have contributed to their extinction. But it’s now evident that some mammoth genomes would make hardier animals than others. “I wouldn’t recommend using a Wrangel Island mammoth as a template,” said Beth Shapiro, a biologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and author of “How to Clone a Mammoth.”
The article I read about has to do with public health. The article is entitled “How to Kill Germs in the Laundry. A doctor by the name of Alexandra Sowa states that “Hot water washing is not necessary for all household laundry.” Other studies suggested that water does not have to be as hot as often thought to get clothes acceptably clean. One particular study was done in Britain that showed that washing dirty clothes of hospital staff members at approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit in a home washing machine was just as effective at killing one type of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) as washing it at a much higher temperature. With that being said, Dr. Sowa found that washing the clothes resulted in contamination with new environmental bacteria, which was more or less very likely from the washing machine itself. Due to this, she recommended that washing machines be periodically cleansed of their considerable load of bacteria by running them for a regular cycle with bleach and water but without clothing. She also said sought extra precaution when washing the clothes of family members with infections and hospital scrubs, by using water heated to 140 degrees.
In California, the Hollywood Reservoir’s water levels are at their all-time high for the first time in years. Usually the reservoir gets a burst of rain every now and then but lately an abundant amount of rain has been showering the reservoir. The hills went from being dusty, brown to fields of grass as high as yours knees as well as purple flowers. In Northern California, there has been snow on top of Mount Diablo which is just outside San Francisco. The snow in Sierra Nevada is a water source when winter ends and the dry months arrive. The snowpack in the Sierra Nevada was almost twice as normal as it was a previous week. Even though the reservoir experienced this amount of rain California is still in a drought state of emergency. California has been in a state emergency of drought since January 17, 2014. The state of emergency was issued by Governor Jerry Brown, and he issued the order when it was after California’s driest years in history.
Daniel Arnold is a photographer obsessed with the people in Manhattan and their whereabouts. He goes about his day taking pictures and capturing priceless moments that reveal the cities lively eccentric style and attitude. Daniel has over 135,000 Instagram followers who follow along with him throughout the day as he posts these eye-catching moments. Daniel has no problem following his subject as they run about trying to get from one destination to another.
I read an interesting article this week called “In Chicago and Philadelphia, the Difference a Park Makes”. It tells about places in the cities that for example, have transformed from dumps to parks. There are many places out there in these big cities that have been cleaned up and turned into things such as playgrounds, ball fields, skate parks, and community gardens. Chicago is a great example for all of this growing, with their major parks and open space program, which upgrades parks and repurposes large spaces of land. In Chicago, all of this growing begun with the former mayor, Richard Daley. It has led to people wanting to have parks, tress and after-school programs that are directed towards violence prevention. This is what is going to create “safe spaces” for young people and maybe even reduce crime. Although parks may not seem like a big priority to build, it is an effort to expand and deliver long-term rewards. The addition of rebuilt or new parks are going to show people that they are not forgotten.
Research in a Post Truth World 37 
A French teenage patient at Necker Children’s Hospital has been cured of a sickle cell disease thanks to a world-first procedure that has given hope to millions of people across the world who suffer from the same disease. For the first time ever, scientists managed to alter the genetic instructions within a patient’s bone marrow, forcing it to create more red-blood cells. With a sickle-cell disease, red blood cells go from being round-shaped to being shaped like sickles. These sickles can then bond together to block the flow of blood, leading to symptoms such as organ pain and failure. The doctor’s, having almost lost hope of saving the patient, removed the patient’s bone marrow and genetically altered it in a lab. This alteration allowed the bone-marrow to again produce red-blood cells.
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In a recent story that took place on February 13th,, North Korea’s dictator, Kim Jong-un’s half brother was reportedly assassinated in Malaysia. However, a new story today reports that a North Korean diplomat has said that Kim Jong-nam died of heart failure. Ri-Tong-il shared that Kim Jong-nam suffered a series of heart complications which ultimately caused his sudden death. Apparently, the diplomat refused to acknowledge the fact that the deceased is the leader of North Korea’s half brother. The diplomat also provided no evidence to his claim on the death. R-Tong-il also called the deceased by the name Kim Chol– which is said to be an alias according to South Korean officials. Ri-Tong-il also challenged police to show proof of the nerve agent that Malaysia claimed was in the body. South Korea believes that North Korea is responsible for the assassination. Malaysian police are now trying to question seven men– two of which, North Korea will not allow authorities to speak with. Currently, North Korean officials are demanding to have the body handed over to them, but Malaysian officials refuse and are examining the body. Malaysia and North Korea’s relationship is becoming rough after the assassination of Kim Jon-nam.
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The Woolly Mammoth’s Last Stand
In an island north of the eastern tip of Siberia, a small group of woolly mammoths became the last survivors of their once thriving species. They fell extinct 4,000 years ago, having endured for some 6,000 years after the mammoths of the mainland had died off. As a population dwindles, natural selection becomes less efficient at purging bad mutations, leading to loss of genes and a slow meltdown of the genome. The implication is that once numbers fall below a certain level, genetic decline is irreversible.The dwindling population during this 40,000 year period suffered a reduction in genetic diversity of some 20 percent, the Swedish team reported, suggesting that the lesser fitness of the Wrangel mammoths might have contributed to their extinction. But it’s now evident that some mammoth genomes would make hardier animals than others. “I wouldn’t recommend using a Wrangel Island mammoth as a template,” said Beth Shapiro, a biologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and author of “How to Clone a Mammoth.”
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The article I read about has to do with public health. The article is entitled “How to Kill Germs in the Laundry. A doctor by the name of Alexandra Sowa states that “Hot water washing is not necessary for all household laundry.” Other studies suggested that water does not have to be as hot as often thought to get clothes acceptably clean. One particular study was done in Britain that showed that washing dirty clothes of hospital staff members at approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit in a home washing machine was just as effective at killing one type of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) as washing it at a much higher temperature. With that being said, Dr. Sowa found that washing the clothes resulted in contamination with new environmental bacteria, which was more or less very likely from the washing machine itself. Due to this, she recommended that washing machines be periodically cleansed of their considerable load of bacteria by running them for a regular cycle with bleach and water but without clothing. She also said sought extra precaution when washing the clothes of family members with infections and hospital scrubs, by using water heated to 140 degrees.
LikeLike
In California, the Hollywood Reservoir’s water levels are at their all-time high for the first time in years. Usually the reservoir gets a burst of rain every now and then but lately an abundant amount of rain has been showering the reservoir. The hills went from being dusty, brown to fields of grass as high as yours knees as well as purple flowers. In Northern California, there has been snow on top of Mount Diablo which is just outside San Francisco. The snow in Sierra Nevada is a water source when winter ends and the dry months arrive. The snowpack in the Sierra Nevada was almost twice as normal as it was a previous week. Even though the reservoir experienced this amount of rain California is still in a drought state of emergency. California has been in a state emergency of drought since January 17, 2014. The state of emergency was issued by Governor Jerry Brown, and he issued the order when it was after California’s driest years in history.
LikeLike
Daniel Arnold is a photographer obsessed with the people in Manhattan and their whereabouts. He goes about his day taking pictures and capturing priceless moments that reveal the cities lively eccentric style and attitude. Daniel has over 135,000 Instagram followers who follow along with him throughout the day as he posts these eye-catching moments. Daniel has no problem following his subject as they run about trying to get from one destination to another.
Pictures:
TinyURL.com/znymugy
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I read an interesting article this week called “In Chicago and Philadelphia, the Difference a Park Makes”. It tells about places in the cities that for example, have transformed from dumps to parks. There are many places out there in these big cities that have been cleaned up and turned into things such as playgrounds, ball fields, skate parks, and community gardens. Chicago is a great example for all of this growing, with their major parks and open space program, which upgrades parks and repurposes large spaces of land. In Chicago, all of this growing begun with the former mayor, Richard Daley. It has led to people wanting to have parks, tress and after-school programs that are directed towards violence prevention. This is what is going to create “safe spaces” for young people and maybe even reduce crime. Although parks may not seem like a big priority to build, it is an effort to expand and deliver long-term rewards. The addition of rebuilt or new parks are going to show people that they are not forgotten.
LikeLike