Nanofood-CAJ Abstract

This CAJ presents reviewed information on nanofood and connected fields of studies. The Journal’s focus lies on both the present situation in nanofood studies and predictions for the future. Concerning the present, the current situation of Nanofood research is discussed with a special scope on potential health risks. Furthermore, food related products which have been altered by nano-technology and are available on the market are presented. When it comes to the future of Nanofood, this CAJ concentrates on methods and products which are currently under development and will be ready for the market within the next twenty years. All the information presented in the following posts has been selected by reviewing various newspaper articles, documentaries and scientific papers. After careful consideration of all possible aspects, it can be said that while especially in Europe Nanofood is yet treated with huge concern, it is more liberated in other parts of the world. Considering what scientists are working on at the moment, it is clear that this field of studies has huge potential for the future and should be a topic discussed more frequently.

WHEN ZOMBIES ATTACK!! MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF AN OUTBREAK OF ZOMBIE INFECTION! !

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the flexibility of mathematical modelling and its application to infectious diseases using the scenario of a zombie infection. The paper is a guide to develop mathematical models for an unusual outbreak and shows how modelling can respond to a wide variety of challenges in “biology”. For the developed models popular-culture zombies, who are slow moving, cannibalistic and undead with no intention of attacking and defeating each other, were chosen. Even though the zombie scenario differs from other infectious diseases by the dead being able to come back to life, these models allow real life applications to, for example, allegiance to political parties, or diseases with a dormant infection. Furthermore, all developed models use a short timescale in order to allow the natural birth and death rates to be ignored. Based on these key criteria five different models were developed: a basic model, a model with latent infection, a model with quarantine, a model with treatment and a model with impulsive eradication. Comparing the outcome of the equations, an outbreak of an infection like a zombie infection is most likely to lead to the collapse of civilisation, unless it is dealt with quickly. Mathematical modelling has led to the conclusion that, while aggressive quarantine may contain the epidemic, or a cure may lead to coexistence, the most effective way to contain the infection are frequent attacks with increasing force.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0HbknFNhe_7QVVmQ0k0X0dlNXM/edit

Instructions how to kill Hitler

This set of instructions will tell you  how to kill Hitler in a few simple steps.

Before you start, make sure you have got all the materials needed:

- everything you need for building a time machine which is able bring you back again.

- a still operating gun, that has been commonly used during World War One

- a still operating gun, that has been commonly used in 1933

- a still operating bomb, that has been commonly used in 1933

If you got all your materials assembled, then move on to step one.

1. Use the material for building a time machine and build a time machine. Be careful that it is a time machine that will be able to bring you back.

2. Choose a time in which you want to kill Hitler. This set of instructions is valid for 1915 or 1933.

3. If you decide to kill Hitler in 1915, then move on to step four.
   If you decide to kill Hitler in 1933, then move on to step six.

4. You have decided to kill Hitler in 1915.
   Take the gun from 1915 and use the time machine to travel to 1915.

5. Now go to the battlefield where Hitler is currently fighting the French, take your gun from 1915 and shoot Hitler.

6. You have decided to kill Hitler in 1933. Pack the gun and bomb from 1933 and use the time machine to travel to 1933.

7. Once again you have two options: you can either develop your own plan, or help someone who is already working on a plan how to kill Hitler.
   If you decide to develop your own plan, move on to step eight.
   If you decide to help someone who is already working on a plan how to kill Hitler, move on to step 12.

8. You decided to develop your own plan, how to kill Hitler. Now, figure out a way how to get close to Hitler.

9. Once you are close enough to Hitler, decide on how to kill him. You can either use the gun from 1933, or the bomb from 1933.
   If you decide to kill Hitler with the gun, move on to step ten.
   If you decide to kill Hitler with the bomb, move on to step 11.

10. You decided to kill Hitler with the gun. Now, take the gun from 1933 and shoot Hitler.

11. You decided to kill Hitler with the bomb. Plant the bomb from 1933 and blow Hitler up.

12. You decided to help someone who is already working on a plan, how to kill Hitler. Find Karl Lutter and his friends from the KDP and help them prepare Hitler’s assassination. Steps a. and b. will tell you how to do that.

1. Join Lutter and his KDP friends.
2. Stop the people who want to betray Lutter from doing that.

13. Together with Lutter and his KDP friends kill Hitler in Königsberg.

Congratulations! If you carefully followed these Instructions, you have just succeeded in killing Hitler. Now here is a little tip: HURRY BACK HOME BEFORE ANYBODY NOTICES WHAT YOU JUST DID!!!!!!

These instructions are based on this document: https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1mUz3PXJoI4n6poNeGAjNHj18yRbvX0g0OuNN28hyw5I/edit

Analysis of Instructions

We looked at these instructions on how to make a camera lucida and rated how helpful we thought they were. 

At first sight, these instructions on how to build a camera lucida seem to be chaotic. We think this is mainly because they do not look like the instructions we are used to. Clearly numbered steps which would make it much easier to follow are missing completely, let alone an explicit list of materials needed to build the camera lucida. The reader has to figure out all this on his own. Even though these instructions do not follow the classic rules of how instructions should look, they still contain all the necessary information. The drawings, for example, indicate the needed materials. By combining the information from the drawings and the additional instructional texts, it should be possible to build a functional camera lucida based on these instructions. In retrospect, the instructions would need some work without doubt, but yet we have to admit that they turned out more helpful than expected at first glance.

Nano Food Abstracts

Applications and implications of nanotechnologies for the food sector

Abstract

A review of current and projected nanotechnology-derived food ingredients, food additives and food contact materials is presented in relation to potential implications for consumer safety and regulatory controls. Nanotechnology applications are expected to bring a range of benefits to the food sector, including new tastes, textures and sensations, less use of fat, enhanced absorption of nutrients, improved packaging, traceability and security of food products. The review has shown that nanotechnology-derived food and health food products are set to grow worldwide and, moreover, a variety of food ingredients, additives, carriers for nutrients/supplements and food contact materials is already available in some countries. The current level of applications in the European food sector is at an elementary stage; however, it is widely expected that more and more products will be available in the EU over the coming years. The toxicological nature of hazard, likelihood of exposure and risk to consumers from nanotechnology-derived food/food packaging are largely unknown and this review highlights major gaps in knowledge that require further research. A number of uncertainties and gaps in relevant regulatory frameworks have also been identified and ways of addressing them proposed.

Comments:

In my opinion this abstract has all it needs.

Purpose: Nanotechnology is already used very often in food, and this is going to increase over the next few years. Unfortunately its effects on consumer are not yet scrutinized sufficiently.

Scope: nanotechnology-derived food ingredients,additives and contact materials 

Methods: reviewing what is already being done and what is missing

Findings: There are major gaps...

Recommendation: ...that require further research.

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02652030701744538

Consumer choices for nano-food and nano-packaging in France and Germany

Abstract

An experiment with different information treatments was conducted in France and Germany to evaluate consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for food nanotechnology focusing on two applications: nano-fortification with vitamins and nano-packaging. Results show that many consumers in both countries are reluctant to accept nanotechnology in food. Being confronted with general information on nanotechnology, econometric estimations of WTP reveal that French consumers are more reluctant to accept nano-packaging, whereas German consumers are less inclined to accept nano-fortification compared with the respective other application. More detailed information on nanotechnology has a negative impact when voluntary access to relevant information is assured.

Comments:

The information in the abstract makes the paper seem very interesting, but unfortunately the text itself is not written cohesively which makes it look a bit unprofessional. Maybe it is just a bad translation, obviously this paper was written in either French or German, but eitherway professional scientists should be able to identify a bad translation. This makes me wonder whether or not the whole paper is worth reading. Other than that, this abstract includes all the typical contents, except for the recommendation.

Purpose: to find out whether or not people are willing to pay for food nanotechnology

Scope: nanotechnology-derived food ingredients,additives and contact materials, France and Germany

Methods: an experiment was conducted 

Findings: Consumers in general are reluctant to accept nanotechnology in food, however the Germans slightly less than the French.

http://erae.oxfordjournals.org/content/40/1/73.short

  

Description of the Photograph "Migrant Mother"

The photograph portrays a middle-aged migrant mother with her three little children, all four of them with gaunt bodies. Clad in worn-out and dirty clothing, their outer appearance indicates a difficult life. At the bottom of the picture an infant is lying on the mother’s lap with its head resting on her left arm, where its face is half-hidden from the camera. The two older children have turned away from the camera. On the right side of the picture one child is clinging to its mother’s shoulder and burying its face in her neck whereas the one on the left side tries to hide itself behind the mother’s shoulder. The center of the photograph is occupied by the mother who is exuding an aura of sadness. Her worn and weather-beaten face bears witness to everything she has gone through. All her worries are apparent in the deep lines that furrow her face. The whole photograph leaves the observer with a strong feeling of sympathy, rooting for a better life for the mother and her three little children.

Dorothea Lange "Migrant Mother"

Nanotechnology - Nanofood: An Introduction

What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology deals with the creation or manipulation of materials on a very small scale, the nanometre (nm). Do give you an Idea what we are talking about: One of your hairs is approximately 70,000 nm in diameter, whereas a nanoparticle has a size somewhere between 0.5 and 5 nm.

The next question you are probably asking yourself by now is: If these particles are so small, what can they actually do? Actually these nanoparticles are quite capable. Compared to bigger particles they have special chemical and physical properties like, for example, higher reactivity. Because they have a relatively large surface area.

What is Nano-Food?

While there are nanoparticles naturally found in food like milk, the term nano-food is generally used to describe food that has been in contact with nanotechnology. Even though nanotechnology in food is rather new, there are already nanotechnological influenced products in our supermarket aisles like ketchup, which often contains silica dioxide particles to maintain the consistency.

What scientists are working on right now:

- nanoparticles in mayonnaise, in order to make it less fat

- nanoparticles in packaging, so the milk carton turns red when the milk is no longer drinkable  

Why is Nano-Food interesting?

Everybody has to eat. That alone should be enough reason for us to find nano-food highly fascinating. Whether we like it or not, whether it is healthy or not, whether it changes the food world completely or not: It is going play a huge part in our future. 



Sources:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/nanotechnology/what.htmhttp://www.theguardian.com/what-is-nano/what-you-need-know-about-nano-food#start-of-commentshttp://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/wait-theres-nanotechnology-in-my-food-16510737
http://www.planet-wissen.de/natur_technik/forschungszweige/nanotechnologie/nanofood.jsp