Did you know that...

March is over, April is almost half-way done, Mother's Day is long gone now, and maybe over Easter time we can skip some Netflix or Amazon Prime easy entertainment to get our eyes on some very interesting reads. It's never easy to find enough time, I totally understand, but if you love science you always take some minutes to educate yourself. I myself am afflicted by very limited time to check all the science news that emerge daily like a Spring-scented garden. But if from a list of say, 14 interesting links, you pick a single one to really lay your eyes on, you will be automatically more informed than the moment that preceded it.

One single article may provide you with the information that you've been craving concerning that health issue you are affected by, that trick to get rid of fat stains from your new carpet, that medical advance that might be relevant for someone you know, or even that charity that is doing some philanthropic work in an African country that you've always wanted to visit... Who knows?, let the flow of an interesting article entice and seduce you into knowing a bit more science. A learned information cannot be unlearned, it will stay with you forever and one day might be useful.

Find below a list of topics I personally believe are extremely interesting with potential to draw a smile on your face today, for knowledge is not only power, knowledge is also very sexy!

Careers

The 2018 Employee Engagement Report for the Life Sciences Industry is live. Access it to read the 18 pages distilling the relevant information on key motivations and differential, company type, Management and Non-Management, Demographics, Type of contracts and the interesting findings observed. A very interesting reading for anyone on the industry, be it employee, and especially employers.

Environment

The Pacific plastic vortex is being cleaned up by System 001, a gigantic net created by the startup Ocean Cleanup to collect floating plastic from oceanic waters (Portuguese Language only). 

If you would like to know more on the plastic island floating through the pacific vortex read the post published by The Toxicologist Today in 2011.

Lifestyle

And if you're into diets, learn from specialists on how detrimental to one's health can it be the currently famous ketogenic diet (Portuguese language only).


And for those like myself, concerned with animal rights and the lack of options to wear, a great online shop I found for satiating your clothing desires.

Pharmaceuticals

A Universal flu vaccine is entering Phase 3 trial and intends to counteract known limitations of other vaccines against seasonal flu. BiondVax Pharmaceuticals apparently is leading the way towards a great prevention against the 8th leading cause of death that is costing America $87bn.

A new anti-malaria drug in the making; one that might actually be targeting the mosquito parasite at an early stage of life rather than focusing on the reduction of symptomatic impact. A good read with very promising results.

Research

Lego! Your children love eating those colourful plastic bricks at all times. But now a group of paediatricians decided to determine typical transit times for a swallowed Lego figurine head, as a matter of example.

The role of MicroRNA in autoimmunity, with special focus on Sjogren's syndrome, is discussed in this interesting article.

An investigation on whether TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) plays a role in cerebral involvement in human systemic lupus erythematosus and primary Sjögren's syndrome with neuropsychiatric implications. 

Discover who is talking about your research by accessing this web page by Altmetric. They track a range of sources to capture and collate activity concerning your publications.

Some researchers are studying the role of the vagus nerve (one of the cranial nerves that has gastric, respiratory and cardiovascular implications in the human body) in fatigue and tiredness in Sjogren's syndrome patients. True or not, the judge is still out there.

If you would like to know more on how I overcame tiredness and fatigue related to my Sjogren's by applying the Wim Hof method, please access this post.

Researchers published pertinent cardiovascular/oncology information in the British Medical Journal concerning the increased risk of lung cancer for those patients taking blood pressure medication, namely ARB and ACEI products (Portuguese language only).


Post image kindly obtained from Motor24, [https://www.motor24.pt/motores/ecologia/projeto-ecologico-ja-comecou-limpar-as-toneladas-plastico-do-oceano-pacifico/?utm_source=ojogo.pt&utm_medium=recomendadas&utm_campaign=afterArticle&_ga=2.151878137.1518736998.1536680189-840951596.1535967158].

'Amar a diferença' - a real case of a wonderful child diagnosed with Optokinetic Nystagmus

When I moved from Portugal to England I was taken straight to the second year of a BSc Hons in Biotechnology for I had already completed basically 75% of my degree in Biotechnological Engineering (in the Algarve). I remember that in the first year in the University of Nottingham I was given the so much needed freedom to research on a topic of my interest, produce a dissertation on it and add my own future perspectives on the chosen subject. I had always been mad about endocrinology but that time, whilst I browsed through many different medical issues, I was confronted with an incurable disease that caused me so much affliction. Unfortunately a cure was still to be found. The image of a young male child that couldn't maintain his eyes still, in order to visually process images. His eye globes were constantly and erratically moving up and down, left to right and left again, in rapid nervous tweaks that had to be prohibitive of the normal perceiving of spaces surrounding him. I thought, how could a child interpret and absorb information with such 'frenetic' irregular ocular movements... plus all the extras that derive from that condition and are not immediately 'visible' to anyone. It had to be utterly incomprehensible; from my point of view.

I immediately started reading and writing about the topic in order to produce a piece of work on that kid's condition, clinically known as "Optokinetic Nystagmus".

But life sometimes reserves us some incredible moments. As I was on holidays this last August 2018 in Monte Gordo (Portugal), I passed by some kid drawing stuff as he was looking so strangely close to the surface of the table. That made me curious! I approached a small group that had gathered around, to read the banner on the back of a stand and look into some copies of a book distributed on yet another stand. Suddenly, these very incredibly amicable parents that were debiting on their personal experience as parents of a child with... yes... Nystagmus, approached me. I was then given the opportunity to exchange some words with them on their personal experience and how terribly difficult it was from the medical diagnosis (the doctor who informed them of such was unfortunately devoid of the 'empathy gene') to the moment they had to change their lives upside down in order to face the financial obligations that came along. It is indeed a story of courage, dedication, learning, comprehending, accepting, working positively and above all, loving. Loving their son, never stop believing that no disability in a humane world should ever mean blockade, inhibition, total incapacity, misery or disenchantment. They did what we should all do in times of irreversible impact: adapt, learn, share.

And so they wrote a book about their whole trajectory through a personal adaptation/education on the topic, as well as in making sure people out there would understand, accept and include children affected by nystagmus in the normal activities a child can undertake. It was an incredible moment for me when I purchased the book and this kid, Simao Rodrigues, signed it for me, took a picture, spoke to me for a while and showed me once again that nothing in life is 'just because'!

If you also wish to learn more about this child's story, their tackling of preconceptions and ignorant prejudice, their process of becoming familiar to a 'devastating' medical problem, please access here. And if possible engage with the many things that are taking place. There is always something one will be able to do. And because I do not wish to flood this post with loads of scientific information, I leave you with a short yet very informative video by the University of Chicago that can shed some light on the matter, if you're not so familiar with it.

To Simao, his parents, and everyone that allows him to fulfill his life as it always should be occuring - a huge huge huge thank you for this incredible opportunity!

Educating is Loving and Love is Educational!

 [A]

[A] Optokynetic nystagmus, University of Chigago, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca9vR4ypMbU], last visited on the 7th of November 2018, last updated on the 27th of September 2017.

Post image: TheToxicologistToday with Simao Rodrigues at Monte Gordo - Portugal, August 2018.

Let's cut the chord then, or shall we not?

Very recently I was asked by a relative for my opinion on how valuable and realistic it is the collecting of chord blood and placenta stem cells for therapeutic purposes. I've done it twice with a company named Future Health Biobank, with headquarters set in Nottingham (UK), if I'm not wrong. I did it for my first child and now again a few weeks back for my daughter. Now the person asking my opinion is going to have a child soon and after my advice started looking for information on what realistically is offered by the advances made in stem cell-based therapies.

There is plenty of information on the web, made available with minimum complication and with a straight forward verbatim. However, after visiting several web pages designed for the purpose, I realised that not many, if any at all, wastes any time providing specific, accurate, up-to-date research references on the specific medical utilisation of stem cell therapies for fixing health issues.

When I decided for the stem cell collection, I myself was vaguely instructed on how effective these therapies present themselves to patients, numbers and science involved in it. Because it is one thing to mention that "Stem cells found in the chord blood have been used for blood related illnesses since 1988 and are now commonly used to treat over 85 diseases, including leukaemia, anaemia and thalassemia". This is too generalist, this is almost common knowledge these days. Another thing is to read the chapter entitled "Advances in Stem Cell therapy" that is part of the series "Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine". This chapter provides an article that I wasn't able to read entirely but if you'd like to, the chapter is priced at £19.95 and the whole ebook at £112. The abstract gives evidence that there is very saucy information for those who want more than just a mere "this can be useful", and are actually looking for a "how is that useful?". If you'd like to purchase the book, access here for more information.

Now, my relatives were given a few articles a nurse passed them, and these contain information that was expected to clarify many of the aspects that were still a gray area. In the nurse's opinion "stem cell therapy wasn't that good because it could only fix blood-related problems", "and the collection has got to be immediate otherwise there is no point". Well, who am I to judge information coming from a nurse who's dealing with births on a daily basis. But as a science writer, former researcher, current medical information officer, educated person, scientifically prepared individual, I can provide my perspective on how people mess up when they say stuff so blunt and vague as that. Sure, she knows she's talking to parents who probably know little about such a specific research realm, but the simple fact that you reduce, say, a possible treatment for leukaemia, to something like "could only fix blood-related problems" reveals a bit of a boisterous simplification of what could mean the possibility of saving your children from a horrific death. For me personally, and trying not to point my fingers so coldly, I don't cherish such approach. In my humble opinion if she wanted to say something like that she could go with "it might fix blood-related problems". See the difference in providing a positive perspective from reducing it to a prior judgmental reduction of its inherent potential capacity to fix a serious health issue?

The articles provided by the nurse (pretty much everything was from web pages) were about delayed chord clamping improving the child's future mental abilities. And also criticising early chord clamping, having it as a possible cause of infant brain damage.

Well, you know me, I don't like to talk about stuff I don't know, but I was asked for an opinion. And I had to read these articles to actually base my opinion on the literature they were given. So what did I find in these pieces of text my relatives were offered?

"Early chord clamping (within the first three minutes of birth) -> reduces the risk of excess bleeding for mums but increases the risk of hypoxia and incidence of autism in children.

If the chord is not clamped -> Children will eventually start breathing on their own gaining an adequate homeostasis by themselves -> The chord vessels clamp themselves and the oxygen flow is not interrupted until the child got stable.

Chord clamping in premature babies can be devastating".

Chord clamping is responsible for:

 [1]

And might also be related to:

 [1]

OK, so all this came from a commercial page. Biased? Very Possibly! There is no known link, to the best of my knowledge, between early chord clamping and increase in autism as it is reported by Russel et al in their article "A qualitative analysis of lay beliefs about the aetiology and prevelance of  autistic spectrum disorders (2010)". But when one takes a look at the remaining articles one is confronted with some scientific evidence that is not offered in the shape of a direct scientific reference... however, for a trained mind, it is easy to find these in proper databases. Here is what I could compile for you that is mainly based on research by Ola Andersson et al:

- Delayed chord clamping did not affect iron levels or neuronal development at age 1 year old in a sample of 347 babies assessed [2] but showed improvements in reducing prevalence of neonatal anaemia [4], therefore naturally associated to future impaired development; 

- Delayed chord clamping for a period of 180 seconds after delivery resulted in similar overall neuronal development among 4-year old children when compared to clamped ones, but the first showed better pro-social indicators [3];

- Delaying chord blood clamping for over 1 minute after the actual exit of the baby's shoulders is likely to increase the risk of phototherapy for jaundice and increase the levels of haemoglobin in the first 2 days of life, but no difference is observed at 3 to 6 months of age [5].

And among all the numerous articles one can find in this topic, I guess the ultimate summary line is that for a technique that has no additional costs and no associated side-effects or reported adverse events, if there is a minimal advantage in reducing the risks of anaemia for these children, then why not doing it and applying it as a common practice? However, there are some recent indications that delayed chord clamping might be associated to increased bilirubin levels in neonatals, but I'd rather prefer jaundice than a short supply of antibodies, white and red blood cells for adequate iron levels and immune responses. On the other hand, collecting those necessary 150-ish milliliters of blood soup where stem cells 'proliferate' might represent risks some will be willing to take if it is for tackling tougher problems in the future. Whatever anyone might say, the choice is not only yours but also of scientists in looking into this matter further, urgently.

[1] Are doctors causing infant brain damage by clamping  the umbilical chord prematurely?, Kencap Medical solutions, [http://m.kenyon.webnode.com/umbilical-cord-articles/], last visited on the 17th of January 2017, last update unknown.

[2] Andersson, O., Domellof, M., Andersson, D., Hellstrom-Westas, L. (2014). "Effect of delayed vs early umbilical cord clamping on iron status and neurodevelopment at age 12 months - A randomized clinical trial". JAMA Pediatrics, 168(6), pp. 547-554.

[3] Andersson, O., Lindquist, B., Lindgren, M., Domellof, M., Hellstrom-Westas, L. (2015). "Effect of delayed on neurodevelopment at 4 years of age". JAMA Pediatrics, 169(7), pp. 631-638.

[4] Andersson, O., Hellstrom-Westas, L., Andersson, D., Domellof, M. (2011). "Effect of delayed vs early umbilical cord clamping on iron status and neurodevelopment at age 12 months - A randomized clinical trial". BMJ, 343, pp. 1-12.

[5] Boehmer, S. and Armando, Q. (2016). "Among healthy term infants , is delayed cord clamping superior to usual practice for preventing clinically significant anemia at 6 months of age?". Helpdesk Answers, Evidence-Based Practice, 19(1), pp. 10-11.

A brief history of time by Stephen Hawking

OK, I assume it. I became so intrigued with the character that Stephen Hawking is, that far before the hype of his image 'exploitation' in the American TV hit 'The Big Bang Theory' (that I just loooooove), I had to know more about his work. Immediately comes to one's mind, almost naturally, his book 'A Brief History of Time'. I visited Waterstones online and purchased it alongside yet another book on a not so unrelated topic (near death experiences) that I will analyse in depth when the right time comes. But let me share with you my brief opinion on the book? 

I have only read half of it and I always read the full book regardless of liking it or not. I always give the writer a chance and I make the commitment of reading the efforts of a person who sat at a computer table and wrote through his ideas, opinions, imaginations for weeks or months. But this book let me down! I'm sorry to all those in the Stephen Hawking blind support crew who just appreciate everything he does without questioning the inherent quality. The person is unquestionably wise, genius and ingenious, incredibly clever like I don't even think I will be in my future 1000 lives. He lived through a horrific disability with an impressive capacity and example of stern ambition. But his book is in my opinion a poor amalgam of subjects intended for the general public, but quite often loses track on the needed simplicity that should be applied to its writing. The examples are poor, the images that intend to give physical body and facilitate interpretation of the examples are even poorer. The most impressive factor is that the book is capable of explaining the hard topics extremely well, for then making a mess of the simplest topics by using confusing explanations, paradigms, examples. 

Anyway I'm only half-way through, but so far I understand that if you don't have a basic knowledge of Physics you won't get most of it. I'm sorry, but that is an undeniable truth! If you deal with Physics on a daily basis you might find it simplistic, but honestly still a bit of a Picasso frame, as there are bits and bobs that could be better lined up. Some parts are like back and forth leaps that simply maze the reader a little too much. I'll keep reading it, though, but so far it's a 2.5 out of 5. 

But let me offer you two antagonistic perspectives from other readers that might help you decide whether to buy it or not.

Readers opinions kindly obtained from [http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3869.A_Brief_History_of_Time#other_reviews]

Crime Scene Investigation: World Book Night with Jonathan Wright

Just before changing all my life by moving from Portugal to England, I had to face a long process of applications that took me around 3 months and a lot of cash. I felt that the economy back in Portugal wasn't prepared to face the revolution of a globalisation, our weak scientific industry wasn't ready to accept the many graduates that a"stuck in 1st gear" educational system was generating, and a personal sense of utter dismay strongly disconnected me from the Biotechnological Engineering course I was chewing for so long. 

Hence, I decided to apply to different universities offering Biotechnology courses and also Forensics (another passion of mine). Along with Toxicology, Forensics and Biotechnology compose the posy of subjects that really trigger my heart to beating faster than the speed of light. 

Fate wrote that I'd join the University of Nottingham, Biotechnology would be the topic of study and here I am today. But I never let the Toxicology and Forensics bonfires die inside. whenever possible I invest in my personal education by cultivating my knowledge learning from very experienced/talented people who master these sciences.

And that's what happened yesterday. The moment I knew Jonathan Wright was going to speak in a public event taking place in the Nottingham Central Library, I had to be there. At 7 pm there I was in a crowd so representative of the crazy affection (let's kindly call it paranoia) British people have for crime books. At least 85% of the public (around 50 people, maybe?) were over 45 years old there and eager to learn from a speaker who knows how to grab the public's attention. 

Jonathan Wright is the Programme Leader for Forensic Sciences and Forensic Science with Criminology undergraduate degrees, as well as a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Sciences in the University of Derby. His research interests are related to blood pattern analysis, firearms, vehicles and vehicle related crime, latent mark development and fire investigation. But we can safely say studying blood crimes is his real thing. Jonathan is a real experienced professional that has worked in many mediatic cases like the Jill Dando murder, for example. So, all in all, I couldn't miss this chance. 

The talk was incredibly interesting, at points slightly soft for someone with a science background, but the feeding of new information was ever present. In the end I popped into a space reserved for the displaying of some books and made a note of the different ones suggested by the organisers of this event.

Take a look at this short list of books that I will definitely be reading in the coming future, as soon as I finish the other 30-odd I still have on my bedside table!!!!!!!

"The everything private investigation book"

Paperback from $12.86 on Amazon

Rated 4 stars by 21 reviewers.

"The science of Sherlock Holmes"

Paperback from $12.93 on Amazon

Rated 4.5 stars by 28 reviewers.

"Crime Busting: Breakthrough in Forensic Science"

Paperback from £14.37 on AbeBooks.co.uk

Rated 4 stars by the bookseller.

"Confessions of a police constable"

Paperback from £7.99 on Amazon

Rated 4.5 stars by 165 reviewers.

"Understanding criminal investigation (Wiley series in Psychology of Crime, Policing and Law)"

Paperback from £38.99 on Amazon

Unrated.

"Know when someone lies to you"

Paperback from £21.88 on Amazon

Unrated.

Have a good read. I know I will!

1st image taken from Mr Jonathan Wright, University of Derby, [http://www.derby.ac.uk/staff/jonathan-wright/], last visited on the 24th of April 2015, last update unknown.

The Heretics and The Beeves - words of controversy

I can't really remember when was the last time I wrote a post for the Toxic Literature label. Let me see... April the 6th, 2014... that was nearly a year ago. I must have read like 30 books since then, but not all science-related, I must assume. Because it has been so long I decided to approach you with controversy, not created by myself but already out there on the shelves of dedicated bookstores.

The books covered today are from a journalist talking about science to the eyes of funny skeptics, and a scientist attempting to be funny as he reports his life experiences of a cultural modus-operandi (even more volcanic because it hasn't been translated to English to avoid lost-in-translation errors, as said by the author). I don't really know how accurate my interpretation is, but I can assure you that both make use of humour. On both occasions controversy emerged and social eruption of a tsunami magnitude was propelled. In any case, if you read any of these books, by all means, share your views with us knowing that this is a free space but a respectful one. I know these books can generate passionate opinions, but science is a progressive area where debate is fuel.

"The Heretics: Adventures with the enemies of science" by Will Storr

Amazon rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars

Price: Kindle version at £4 and Paperback at £7 on Amazon.

Editor's summary: "Why do obviously intelligent people believe things in spite of the evidence against them?

Will Storr has travelled across the world to meet an extraordinary cast of modern heretics in order to answer this question. He goes on a tour of Holocaust sites with David Irving and a band of neo-Nazis, experiences his own murder during 'past-life regression' hypnosis, takes part in a mass homeopathic overdose, and investigates a new disease affecting tens of thousands of people - a disease that doesn't actually exist.

Using a unique mix of personal memoir, investigative journalism and the latest research from neuroscience and experimental psychology, Storr reveals why the facts just won't convince some people, and how the neurological 'hero-maker' inside all of us can so easily lead to self-deception and science-denial. The Heretics will change the way you think about thinking."

Most voted customer review: "Why people believe strange things  (and why they can't help it). I really enjoyed this. It is a little like The Believing Brain inasmuch as Storr says that belief comes first and only then do we justify that belief. We discard evidence against our belief and give too much credence to evidence that supports our belief - this is the confirmation bias. A large part of our belief is hereditary, e.g. political views. Oddly, and to paraphrase the author, being clever doesn't make one any more impartial, it just makes one better able to defend one's prejudice that was arrived at purely emotionally! We are all unable to escape our biases, because that is who we are - it is impossible to look beyond them. Nervous "pulses" combine in the brain and the brain makes a model of the world and at the centre of this model is the illusory self - the hero and centre of the universe, but apparently this, too, is a deception and an illusion. An illusion we will do anything to preserve and protect, leading to such cognitive contortions like cognitive dissonance (a kind of intellectual ambivalence to protect integrity of self) and confabulation (making up strange excuses to preserve one's model, that one honestly believes, but which are untrue). One amazing insight is on page 349 when he says that the scientific method is a tool humans have developed to break the mind's storytelling narrative and model-making (everything we perceive and experience is a model the brain has made of the world, not the actual world) - its prejudices and biases. To remove emotion and anecdote. But it isn't easy because science is difficult to grasp and understand and heresy is usually easy and instinctive - 'instinctive' should start alarm bells ringing after reading this book." 

"Bifes Mal Passados" by Joao Magueijo

Amazon Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

Price: Kindle version at £8.99 on Amazon.

Editor's summary: "A script of funny weekends and frustrated attempts to make holidays in England, is the starting point for a tour of Anglo-Saxon culture, as seen through the eyes of a Portuguese Scientist living in the UK for over twenty years and from whom we are more used to read popular science essays. Bifes Mal Passados is alternately hilarious and serious, inviting reflection on cultural identity, and urging the Portuguese to get rid of their inherent inferiority complex. Joao Magueijo is a scholar of the cosmos, and was one of the pioneers of the theory of the variable speed of light. He is currently  a professor at the Imperial College, in London. On the only two occasions he went fishing he got a mullet and a piranha (a real fact, but the best comedy is indeed the events narrated in this book)." Translated from Portuguese.

Most voted customer review: "Bifes Mal Passados" is not about destroying the English people or the English culture it is just about what any person sees out there when arriving to or living in England for a while, but due to cultural differences it is exaggerated and raised to the power of a thousand swear words. Everything described in this book has been witnessed by citizens from other nationalities during their time in England, seen live on a daily basis. There is an extreme need for humility when you read an analytical book that goes beyond what we know from what is told in schools. This books travels through the spectrum of social dogmas, paradigms and problems so deeply embedded in the English society that most of the English folks take it as an attack to their culture when, in fact, for other people coming from abroad and accustomed to different perspectives and behavioural models, it is their culture seen with positives and negatives. The greatest problem of this book, contrarily to for example "The Portuguese - A Modern History" by Barry Hatton, is that the language is funny and harsh, and any English citizen reading it will need a strong capacity to admit "Yes, we are just like that". But that attitude is itself so contrary to the (unfortunately still remaining) Imperial DNA transpiring from the social fabrics that immediately generates hatred. I read comments all over the internet trying to generate a movement to fire Joao Magueijo, humiliating the Portuguese police in what concerns the McCann file, calling the Portuguese PIGS, bankrupt, corrupt, stupid. I wonder for a second if any of these people actually read the book. The answer is a clear NO, because for most of those who cannot go beyond their assumption of royal superiority, there is no need to study the subject of social habits when they are our own habits. Everyday different nationalities are humiliated on national/public television, especially these days with UKIP-driven shows blaming Romanians, Bulgarians and also Portuguese on the matter of border control and European laws. These people also have hearts, brains and an inherent dignity that hurts when unjust comments are made. This book is not about unjust comments, but INDIVIDUAL observations from a known eccentric/slightly arrogant Professor that happens to be accepted by many other people who come from abroad to live in England. Not reading it or at least not accepting this book as a factual document is like not allowing Muhammad to be drawn in paper. But the in-your-face language used makes it really tough to take it on the chin!"

The Hot Zone and Ebola

A post on Ebola that I've kindly transcribed from the Daily Beast into the was commented several times in the LinkedIn forum where I've advertised it. One of the group members, Anette Perry (a Medical Technologist from Florida) timely suggested two books on the matter. Richard Preston's "The Hot Zone" and William Close's "Ebola". In her own words:

I am definitely going to read both of them, but they'll have to queue because there's 12 other on the line already. Nevertheless, I thank Anette for her recommendations and leave you with prices, reader's review and overall rating on these two books. The moment I get some free time I'll proceed with reading them and leave you with my personal opinion on their value and quality. Enjoy your reading!

Title: "The Hot Zone"
Author: Richard Preston
Price: £4.49 Kindle Edition and £13.98 paperback (Amazon prices)
Overall rating: 4.5 starts out of 5 (www.amazon.co.uk)
Best public review:

***

Title: "Ebola"
Author: William T. Close
Price: £1.38 used paperback version and £30.92 new paperback version (Amazon prices)
Overall rating: 3.89 stars out of 5 (www.goodreads.com)
Best public review: 

Coltan, frantically promoting war and progress

My wife is getting really upset at my uncontrolled consumption of books. She says we have no space left and the little cuddy we have in the living room cannot take anything else. But the fact is that I love reading, so she suggested me a Kindle; fact is 1) it is too expensive for my financial possibilities at the moment and 2) I like holding my books and smell the paper and relive the memories of walking to my office and lab whilst munching on the different books I consume. I must admit I am an avid consumer of literature, but an eclectic one. From Richard Dawkins to Richard Matheson, from Patrick Suskind to Jose Saramago, I travel the whole globe in search of knowledge, amusement and new ideas.

Recently I've listed yet another book to read this Summer, immediately after I finish four novels (including Napoleon), eight science books (including Ben Goldacre's Big Pharma) and two autobiographies (Man Utd's former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and The Smith's former lead singer Morrisey). The book I'm talking about came to my attention after my wife's cousin, Alexandra Valentim, emailing me a PowerPoint Presentation on the subject of war in Congo... and the need fro Coltan in the industrialized world.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is just on top of the country where I was actually born, Angola. With a population of over 70 million people and a ridiculous life expectancy of less than 50 years, this country is extremely wealthy. But it doesn't appear so considering the devastating war that has been consuming lives unnecessarily. Did you know that 80% of the world reserves of Coltan are found in DR Congo?

Coltan, what is it?

Short name for two minerals, columbite-tantalite, it is also called grey-gold. A very scarce and strategic resource in nature, primordial for new technologies such as sat-navs, mp3/4 players, missiles, plasma screens, consoles, digital cameras, etc.

What's the issue?

The issue is that Congolese workers who are paid ridiculous wages for mining this mineral under Pre-historical work conditions and treated like modern slaves will never see the real value of their work materialized in better life conditions, for them or their families. Several technology companies have been profiting millions from their work and a natural resource that should offer better education and quality of life to the Congolese who inherited it. But in opposition it has been creating more war, more social decay and more offenses to their human rights. In addition, wildlife is treated as pure rubbish as workers are forced to rage against protected areas in search for more of this mineral that will end up supporting a devastating consumption economy in the industrialized modern "civilised" world. The link between a continuing war and the total devastation of Africa through extensive use of their resources creates two realities, both too difficult to operate on and solve: 1) Africans gets poorer and more social decay is expected as warlords get richer and invest even more in modern slavery strategies; 2) We consume terrible amounts of resources that our world can still offer us, at an insane rate of self-extinction that leaves us with immense gaps for the future to come... and usually these things end up promoting more war incidents between countries when the resources become rare, scarce, too precious... Just like Coltan in DR Congo.

Tell me about it?

Well, apparently (because I haven't read it yet), Alberto Vazquez-Figueroa, a Spanish Writer/Journalist and author of the acclaimed "Tuareg" (more than 5000 copies sold worldwide - find it here) published a very good book on this matter. The book is "Coltan" and can be bought online for around £15 (new paperback) or approximately £9 (used paperback version). As usual I am going to buy it and read it, and when done with it I'll leave you with my updated opinion on it. For the time being I did not manage to find a single review online about it, maybe you shall be so lucky and if so, let me know about it too.

1st image taken from Amazon.co.uk

2nd image taken from http://trabalibros.com/noticias/i/8301/52/alberto-vazquez-figueroa-publica-bimini

Bad This, Bad That, "Bad" Ben Goldacre

I was ignorant on the ways of Goldacre's Guardian's columns until the day I read, perhaps in one of the great blogs I advertise down below on the left, that Goldacre's was a Guru in search of the truth. After reading a very brief mention to his writing ability I decided to search for his books. Firstly, I found his picture and immediately got startled by an Einstein-figurine that through times has been vindicating that crazy hairdos do not have to linearly belong to crazy people. Somehow still yet inebriated by my secular iconoclast soul I decided to give this author a chance... and what an amazing surprise I was hit with. Probably, for most of the Brits I work with, Goldacre is a must since they were like sixteen. How surprised did they sound when I revealed that this writer, doctor, columnist, man of a thousand jobs, was new to me and I had yet to let him captivate me if he was to stand a chance of belonging to my personal library.

I don't care how surprised my colleagues sounded, or the extent of their irony. How can people who have no idea who Saramago was, Pessoa, Miguel Torga, Eca de Queiroz, or the most contemporary, Sophia de Mello Breyner, Lobo Antunes and Agustina Bessa-Luis, claim ignorance on anything. OK, now I'm being rough, but you understand my point guys, somehow I had to advertise the great writers from my country who more than deserve to be read by all of you. Well, let's move forward! Reading is knowledge and regardless of when it hit you, it is always welcome. And I must say that even though it might sound a tad arrogant, Ben Goldacre knows his way with words, facts and arguments that cement his intrepid ideas. Intrepid because he messes with a secret-shaped mud, revolves the ground that hides the truth and exposes the facts based on other even more real facts. Nevertheless, and even though he assumes that his exposures might direct people to over-criticism of science and pharma, it is very easy to drift reasoning and assume passion if one is not careful and blindly think that if in the populace there's a black sheep, all sheep are thus, black.

I recently purchased two great books from Ben Goldacre's collection, one is a best-seller, the other is a continuum of his investigatory attitude towards dismantling the monsters we all applaud without even blinking.  I must exacerbate that I am not anti-pharma, or even anti-science (how could I?), not at all. I love pharma, I love science, they are necessary domains that complement each other and replenish the world with progress. What I hate in fact is ignorance, as I do not consider it bliss. And I pity people who love being ignorant. Goldacre is not a guru, I have no patience for gurus. Goldacre is a guy who investigates pretty well, exposes it in a very simple, funny, pungent way, and then, after you've been served, you are left craving more... Truth!

Title: "Bad Science"

Author: Ben Goldacre

Label: Fourth Estate

Year: First published in Great Britain in 2008

Price: £4.30 on Amazon (sold by World of Books Ltd)

Public review: 4.4 stars

Public comment:

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Title: "Bad Pharma"
Author: Ben Goldacre
Label: Fourth Estate
Year: First published in Great Britain in 2012
Price: £6.54 on Amazon (sold by SuperBookDeals)
Public review: 4.5 stars
Public comment:

New Year New Label New Books

2014 started nearly a month ago but the Christmas Spirit is here to stay, so imbued of that holy magnificent giving-away spirit I decide to keep offering me stuff that I really desired for. Note that I never mentioned "need for", even though it is stuff so good that its inherent quality make these items utterly necessary.

I talk you guys about BOOKS. One of my passions. I read on the way to work and I read on the way home. Sometimes, most of the times actually, I skip taking the bus that would shorten my trip to work to some direct/boring 8 minutes in a  bad traffic day, and I delight myself with a good reading in a 30 minutes walk that makes me wish for more. 

I enjoy the fresh air and also the very interesting things I put my eyes on.

Recently I've been reading 8 books at a time. Odd? No. I get bored very easily if the intensity of the literature in kind of roller-coasting through my retinas. But then I thought it would be great to start a book label here in the blog, literature concerning science obviously, but not that boring tedious amalgam of heavy weight wording with loads of definitions, concepts and formulas. This is to be interesting above all; interesting and enticing. 

For starters, let me introduce you one of the four books I just purchased through Amazon, on some very indulging prices. Some are used but who really cares?, as long as I can read the words and see the images properly, I'm game!

Title: "Forensics"

Author: Richard Platt

Label: Kingfisher Knowledge

Year: First published in 2005

Price: £2.15, used but in a very good state

Public review stars: 4 stars

Public comment: 

Starting quote from book:

Link: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=uEZrWdQt5ZUC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

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UPDATE ON THE 06TH OF FEBRUARY AFTER READING HALF OF THE BOOK:
OK, it's quite acceptable as you learn new things. But it's a very general approach to forensics. Nice for kids or people who have no knowledge at all on forensics and thrive on it. If you're a student on your GCSEs and need a career enlightenment, this book "might" help you slightly on your decision making. I would rate it for "teenagers" and people with no knowledge of science whatsoever.
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I will come back soon to you guys with info on the other three I bought. Just let me handle primordial things better because being a dad, doing a PhD and writing up is a tough challenge :D