Resource Notes: Human-Animal Chimeras are Gestating on U.S. Research Farms

Resource Note: Human-Animal Organ Research

(Animal Research by Compassionate Action for Animals. Shared Under CC BY-SA 2.0. Web Source:https://www.flickr.com/photos/compassionateaction/41704834002)

For this resource post, I read Human-Animal Chimeras Are Gestating on U.S. Research Farms by Antonio Regalado. This article caught my attention through its opening line: "U.S. research cetners are moving ahead with attempts to grow human tissue inside pigs and sheep with the goal of creating hearts, livers, or organs needed for transplants" (Regaldo, 2016). I was astonished by this statement and I believe it would be a scientific break through if it could be achieved. However, if the feat could be accomplished, I would question its reliability as most diseases and illnesses are transferred from animals to humans. Since the organs would be coming from animals and placed in humans, I believe this swapping increases the chance that a serious disease could be spread at unpredictable rate. 

Away from this, I was surprised that the NIH agency believed that animals cognitive states may be altered if human brain cells are implanted in the animal. I do not know that much about animals, but I take that statement with much optimism. This is due to the fact that human cells interlink to make one human unique. However, if they do not align perfectly, then they do not work, cause deficiencies, or shut down. Due to this, I believe human cells will not produce as great of an effect in animals.

In closing, this article was fascinating and I hope that they are able to pull of the feat to have animals produce human organs. However, with much optimism I am questioning its reliability to work long-term in humans.

Reference:

Human-Animal Chimeras Are Gestating on U.S. Research Farms by Antonio Regalado. Posted January 6, 2016.

Resource Notes: The Ethics of Human Enhancement

The Ethics of Human Enhancement

(DNA by Andy Leppard. Shared Under CC BY 2.0. Web Source: Flickr)

All semester, I have been looking forward to this weeks topic on biotechnology. My interest embarks upon the ethical and implications surrounding the changes to one's biological DNA. In order to be well versed on this topic, I chose to read The Ethics of Human Enhancement by Andy Miah. The article begins by saying that "technology could allow people to make themselves 'better than well' by using enhancements such as brain modifications" (Miah, 2016). This statement prompted me to question the ethics of technology. I believe that allowing individuals to alter and modify their brain power is unethical and provides a disadvantage for individuals and families that do not have the money or ability to do this. Furthermore, I believe things should be left alone and treated for how they are created. This is because humans are produced with many questions.. how they will be when they are born, if they will be smart, healthy, athletic, etc. Altering this affect doesn't provide benefits for the child but instead provides benefit for how the parents want their children to be. I believe this would also be a tough talk parents would have to have with their child if they chose to alter one's DNA. This is because they would have to tell them that you weren't going to be 'perfect' so we needed to alter your DNA for us to 'accept' you. This can be paraphrased through Miah (2016) in which DNA alterations provides a technological shortcut in order for one to achieve a goal. Lastly, I liked how Miah (2016) brought up the affordability of DNA altercations, but I am still skeptical that it would be affordable. I believe this because every thing nowadays is thought to be expensive. I would be mind-blown if they could create a process this advanced to be sold or treated at a relatively inexpensive cost.

Reference:

Miah, A. (2016). The Ethics of Human Enhancement. Web Link: Biotechnology

Resource Notes: Are You There, Democracy?

Resource Note: Week 12

(Democracy and the Government by Justin Schuck. Shared Under CC BY-ND 2.0. Web Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/justinschuck/8710849033)

Earlier this semester we discussed terms and conditions, as well as privacy laws related to the use of the internet. This week we switch to talking about the internet and its role in spreading ideologies on political democracy. This topic is case sensitive based on a governmental employee releasing private and confidential information a few years ago. The government employee I am referring to is Edward Snowden. Edward Snowden made headline with his decision to go against governmental policy for the justice of the public so they have a sense of understanding of what the government keeps behind the walls. "Are You There, Democracy?" hits on the discussion of technology and democracy based on the author's interest in mass surveillance and its privacy. This article shares insight and stories based on if technology is good for democracy. I personally believe that technology provides everyone with better capabilities to stay in contact with each other. However, with saying this, I realize that the government has the ability to track us with out us knowing. This is scary to think about but I don't think we need to be scared by it. The government has been able to stop terror threats and other incidents that would not have been preventable if it wasn't for the government. In addition, technology has allowed for the general public to share information that reaches thousands of individuals to begin a rally for certain ideas. This would not have happened if it wasn't for technology. I am not saying that we shouldn't be worried about the power technology can have but to say that we need to limit its advancement is crazy because I believe the benefits out weigh its costs.

Are You There, Democracy? It's me the Internet. By: Jenna Bitar. Web Source:link

Resource Notes: Applying the Four Moves

(Sports by Nadine Oliverr. Shared Under CC0 1.0. Web Source Flickr)

For this week's resource notes part 2, I applied the four moves to a random article I found online. This article was about the University of Minnesota football and basketball team and how they won a football bowl game and a NCAA post-season tournament of 64 basketball game in the same year. A link to this article can be found here.  To begin this analysis, I will start by checking for and describing the previous work or knowledge on the topic, move to going upstream on the source, switching to reading laterally, and then finish by circling back and confirming the reliability of the article.

In the article their was no check of previous work relating to if the Minnesota football and basketball team's have won a post-season game in the same year. However, the article was written by an individual that specializes in covering Minnesota sports. Due to this, I believe that most of the information should be accurate and reliable. However, to make sure, I will go upstream and find the original source.

The original source I used to fact-check the original source was the gopher sports statistics archives on the gopher sports web page. After checking, I can confirm that this is the first time that the gophers have achieved this feat in its existence. In addition, I can confirm that Ohio State and Iowa did the same as Minnesota this year too.

As for the third move, reading laterally is tough for this article as it isn't so much based on opinion but based on fact. The gopher sports web page is an account run by gopher sports property and base their web page on posting factual results of their sports team. Because of this, it is the truth and honest. In addition, Andy, the author has been in this profession for over 13 years and has a wealth of knowledge on this topic. This also confirms that most of the information posted is accurate and reliable to use.

In closing, I do not need to circle back after reading the post because the author summarized all of the information I was looking for in a concise and overview fashion. Andy did a nice job!

Andy Greder. Gophers win bowl and NCAA tournament game for first time ever. But... Article Link

Resource Notes: Web Literacy

(Books by Natasia Causse. Shared Under CC BY 2.0. Web Source: Flickr)

Reading through the Web Literacy for Student Fact Checkers online book was an eye opener into the truth behind online sources. This book outlined resources that a readers can do to identify the reliability of a source, checking how complete your work is, or trying to trace a claim made by a source. This identification system is called the fast-checking process and is reliant upon 4 central moves. These moves are checking for previous work, finding the originality of a source, reading laterally, and circling back. I believe this fast-checking process can provide value when writing research papers or exploring new topics. The book also discussed that pieces of writing should only be written or commented about when emotional levels are steady and in check. This is something that I believe many of us can learn from as most of the time we begin commenting on situations in the spur of the moment. This leads to saying words that are not always the most thoughtful or accurate statements. One of the last things that I read about was reviewing an online picture and finding its original source. This is something that is important as technology has made it easy to screen clip or photo shop pictures. This has been seen to have pictures being used in articles that have no direct ties to the meaning of the picture. Reading this has questioned the reliability of pictures in articles and wanting to confirm its relation to the article. Lastly, it is crazy to think that people or organizations actually pay social media sites to post their information at the top of individuals news feeds. Personally, this is crazy to me because I disregard most information that doesn't relate to me, but I guess if it works and generates money or service for the group then go ahead and keep doing it.

Caulfied, M. Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers. Link

Resource Notes: Video Feedback

(Camera by Nickolas Titkov. Shared Under CC BY-SA 2.0. Web Source: Flickr)

For this post, I am going to write about surveillance in baseball from a video feedback side that is used in baseball for player development. I am making this connection because I have a desire to work in professional baseball and have a strong personal background in this field.

To begin, video feedback in baseball has been continually growing field. It started off with camcorders being placed remotely around the baseball field to capture the data on an SD card. From their, the video file on the SD card would need to be  uploaded to a computer to begin watching the file. Once the film is uploaded, video programs would need to be used to clip the video frame-by-frame. This process could take hours to complete. However, in the past few years, technology has expedited this process. Now, we have video cameras that are put up with WiFi capability and synced to an iPad. This has allowed for individuals to manually clip the video feed and place it on a server within minutes. This has allowed for individuals to go in and watch their at-bats or pitches any time they want.

This is just one of many examples that is being used to expedite player development in baseball. It is crazy to see how far we have come in technology for baseball. I remember when I was little that it would have been an ground breaking tool if we had the amount of technology that is being thrown around the game. This goes from rapsodo, to hit trax, to track man, to many other tools that provide analytical data to improves one's game in baseball. I can't wait to see where the game evolves within the next 10 years.

Neist, A. (2019). Vidswap.com

Resource Notes: Surveillance

(Surveillance by Jay Phagan. Shared Under CC BY 2.0. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jayphagan/33870031091)

In today's society, technology seems so great that they can track your movement before you take them.. literally! This is so crazy to imagine, but Hayhurst (2017) article Analytics makes fast work of video surveillance searches provides background information to attest that it is the case. The following blog will depict surveillance from the viewpoint of its ability to catch individuals before a crime is committed.

Nowadays, college campus and inner city metropolitan areas are beginning to add surveillance cameras around the area. These cameras provide a direct a stream to a control room that is monitored by security personnel's. However, when I read this statement, I was shocked because my apartment building has security cameras that are in place but are rarely checked or catch individuals committing a crime. Due to this circumstance, my thought of security cameras are pointless or a waste of money. However, the article when on to explain the benefits of them and actually gained back my trust. 

A few examples the articles use to explain how powerful or great they are is that some colleges have placed over 600 cameras around their campus and have the ability to display as many images as they like on a screen. Furthermore, control rooms have been juiced up on the analytics power through its ability to break down long film into segments just by stating key descriptive words to narrow in on the suspect from a footage.

Lastly, I'm not sure if our campus has this ability with their surveillance cameras but I hope they do. This is because the surveillance camera's and analytic program discussed in this article has said that they have been able to improve monitoring of off-campus properties and university parking lots. Cuing into these areas, would decrease the number of reported crimes on campuses as well catch more individuals that do commit these crimes.

Reference: Hayhurst (2017). Link: Analytics makes fast work of video surveillance searches