Angie Pearson
Forensics D Odd
Dec 4, 2019
Harvard University. "Detecting tiny amounts of fentanyl." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 November 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191112160223.htm>.
Researchers in the lab of George Whitesides, have designed a new device that can identify smaller concentrations of drug powders than any other device. It is portable, cost-effective, and simple to use. This technology can provide law enforcement officers and forensic chemists a quick and accurate way to identify unknown, potentially dangerous, substances, such as fentanyl which killed more than 28,000 individuals in the United States in 2017.
Christoffer Abrahamsson and Michael Fink describe how their device, called Magneto-Archimedes Levitation (or MagLev), separates substances based on density. "The thermos-sized MagLev has two brick-like magnets above and below a retractable, clear container. Inside, a magnetic gasoline-like solution made from something called a gadolinium chelate complex pushes foreign objects -- bubbles, sugar, or heroin -- into layers of neat, identifiable clouds." In my opinion, This is much more trust-worthy than quick-test options like immunoassays and colorimetric tests that change color depending on the chemical, due to the unreliability of if they pick up more than one substance, the colors can blend, sometimes making the test unreliable. The MagLev device has can separate seven different substances at a time, which is extremely useful for forensic chemists and law enforcement because street drugs usually mixtures of several different drugs. Usually, when new drugs are analyzed in a forensic laboratory, it can take more than a day to identify the chemicals. But with MagLev, the compounds can be separated in 5 to 25 minutes.
This article was well written and emphasized the importance of this new technology. The author had several different small paragraphs, which separated ideas about the device itself as well as the benefits it can provide, giving the article a good flow. They also talked about the dangers of street drugs and how this device can help, which gave this new device an extremely appealing look.
10 comments:
Esther Devitt
12/4/19
Forensics D-Odd
Current Event #10
Harvard University. "Detecting tiny amounts of fentanyl." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 November 2019. .
https://bhscsi.blogspot.com/2019/
For this week's current event I chose to discuss Angie's review of the article, "Detecting tiny amounts of fentanyl." from Harvard University. One thing I think Angie did a great job of doing was discussing the article, she made it very easy for the readers to understand what the actual article was discussing and it felt very informative. I also enjoyed how Angie discussed her take on the article and what she agreed and disagreed with and gave the author criticism. Lastly, Angie used lots of great quotes and pieces of data from the article in her review which increased her credibility to the readers.
If I had to give Angie any suggestions on this review I would tell Angie that I wish she discussed more in-depth how this story relates to the things we have discussed in class like toxicology labs. I also wish Angie discussed how this was impacting society today because it is a very pressing issue in today's world.
Overall, I really enjoyed Angie's review of this article because I thought it was such an interesting topic, especially since it is such a scary reality that many people face every day. I really appreciated how detailed and thorough she was when writing this review.
Randy Ayala Valdez
Mr. Ippolito
Forensic Science
4 December 2019
Current Events 10
Harvard University. "Detecting tiny amounts of fentanyl." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 November 2019. .
https://bhscsi.blogspot.com/2019/12/angie-pearson-forensics-d-odd-dec-4.html
Angie was able to add a myriad of details and information to the device she discussed. Her review contained the benefits of the new device, Magneto-Archimedes Levitation (or MagLev), highlighting its accuracy to identify potentially dangerous substances in comparison to older devices. She did not overcompensate and include unnecessary information to cover the review. The instructive remarks made it very simple to read the review and navigate through the topics discussed in the writing. Angie also gives the reader context on how the device is significant to the present, presenting the ways it could be useful over other technological devices.
Angie could improve her by implementing more valuable feedback on the author of the article she chose and listing more factors that contribute to the positive and negative aspects of the MagLev. If she offered more information on what cons the MagLev provided, the review would have given the reader a more neutral review. Focusing on one component of the MagLev supplies the reader with limited insight into what is being explained in the review.
I learned about the benefits in the use of the MagLev but importantly how it is extremely useful for forensic chemists and law enforcement because of street drugs usually mixtures of several different drugs. The new device is capable of organizing substances more efficiently than the other devices, thus, it may become a prominent feature in forensic science.
Molly Palma
12/13/19
Forensics C-Odd
Current Event #11 Comment
Harvard University. "Detecting tiny amounts of fentanyl." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 November 2019. .
https://bhscsi.blogspot.com/
I was impressed how Angie contextualized this article with only two sentences in the first section. I was able to identify the problem which led to the creation of this device aswell as the research that’s been taken on by the forensic scientists, which will ultimately help law enforcement “recognize smaller concentrations of drug powders”. In the second section, Angie did a good job with providing evidence. An example of this is when she put a direct quote from the article about how exactly the substances are separated. Lastly, Angie made sure to weave in her own ideas throughout the review, not just in the conclusion paragraph which is typical reading these.
I wish Angie’s conclusion paragraph wasn’t so short. I feel as though there were some loose ends to tie up in this review specifically on how the author should make improvements on their article. In addition to that Angie would have varied her sentence structure. Often her sentences were well-written but long; the reader would probably lose interest by the time they got to the period.
I chose this review because I knew there was such an epidemic regarding fentanyl and I was curious on how forensic science was going to help the situation. Reading this review, I learnt about which specific company has the best device and why: “it is portable, cost-effective, and simple to use”. I was intrigued by the review and will definitely continually check up on this topic in the future.
Jordan Hoang
Mr. Ippolito
Forensics C Odd
12/6/19
Harvard University. "Detecting tiny amounts of fentanyl." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 November 2019. .
https://bhscsi.blogspot.com/2019/12/angie-pearson-forensics-d-odd-dec-4.html
In her review of the article “Detecting tiny amounts of fentanyl”, Angie did a lot of things well. For one, I enjoyed how detailed she was about describing MagLev, a new device that allows drugs to be separated. She gave an informative and clear overview of how exactly this form of technology worked. In addition, I liked how she sourced quotes from the text. This added substantial information to her summary and overall made her review more legitimate. Finally, I liked how she gave statistics. Stating that “fentanyl which killed more than 28,000 individuals in the United States in 2017” made it clear to readers how dangerous street drugs are- and how extremely valuable and beneficial MagLev would be to our society.
One critique I would give Angie would be to add some of her own opinion on the significance of the article. She didn’t give much of her personal thoughts about how this new forensic technology could impact society. In addition to this, there were some run-on sentences in Angie’s review that made her work difficult to understand at times. Making her sentences shorter and more concise would have made her review even stronger.
Forensic science and technology are evolving at an alarming rate. It is unfathomable to me to see the number of new devices and software that are becoming more readily available to scientists. It is clear that we will be capable of solving infinitely more forensic and criminal cases that ever before by having access to technology such as MagLev.
Charlotte Dotson
Mr. Ippolito
December 8, 2019
Current Event 11
Harvard University. "Detecting tiny amounts of fentanyl." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12
November 2019. https://bhscsi.blogspot.com/2019/
This week I read Angie’s review of, “Detecting Tiny Amount of Fentanyl”. The first thing Angie did well in her review was her summary. The summary was informative and comprehensive; it had all the points from the article. Secondly, Angie used quotes when appropriate to add credibility to her summary/arguments which I liked. The use of quotes also allowed the reader of the review to gain insight into what exactly the authors of the article were reporting. Lastly, Angie had very insightful criticism. It is evident she read the article and had well thought out opinions on it.,
It would have been interesting if Angie had briefly discussed how this topic relates to what we have learned in the Forensics class. Some of our labs have related to this topic and that could have been mentioned in the review. The last suggestion would be to expand on the review., What Angie wrote was very insightful and informative, but if it had been slightly longer the reader could have learned more on the topic.
I enjoyed this review and article because of how prevalent it is in the modern-day. Drug abuse is a growing problem, so it was interesting to read about how it connects to Forensic science.
I was dazzled how Angie contextualized this article with just two sentences in the main segment. I had the option to distinguish the issue which prompted the making of this gadget aswell as the examination that has been taken on by the measurable researchers, which will eventually help law requirement "perceive littler groupings of medication powders". In the subsequent area, Angie worked admirably with giving proof. A case of this is the point at which she put an immediate statement from the article about how precisely the substances are isolated. In conclusion, Angie made a point to weave in her own thoughts all through the survey, not simply in the end section which is run of the mill perusing these.
I wish Angie's decision section wasn't so short. I feel just as there were some last details to tie up in this audit explicitly on how the writer should make enhancements for their article. Notwithstanding that Angie would have fluctuated her sentence structure. Regularly her sentences were elegantly composed however long; the peruser would most likely lose enthusiasm when they got to the period. I picked this survey since I knew there was such a scourge with respect to fentanyl and I was interested on how legal science was going to support the circumstance.
Sophia Prior
Current Event 12
January 6, 2020
Harvard University. "Detecting tiny amounts of fentanyl." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 November 2019. .
After reading Angies’s article which looked at a study in which researchers in the lab of George Whitesides designed a new device that can identify smaller concentrations of drug powders than any other device. Angie did a good job of summarizing and exploring the use of The MagLev device that can separate seven different substances at a time. In addition, Angie did an amazing job including a detailed explanation of the device, into her piece.
Something that I think Angie could have worked on would be including more of her own opinion instead of just facts. Although she did a good job of summarizing the article, she could have broken up the piece a little to make it easier to follow.
In reading the review I gained new knowledge of the usefulness for forensic chemists and law enforcement because they can take the device and use it on street drugs which are mixtures of several different drugs and it is helpful in solving cases.
Clara DeMagalhaes Current Event #12
Harvard University. "Detecting tiny amounts of fentanyl." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 November 2019. .
https://bhscsi.blogspot.com/2019/12/angie-pearson-forensics-d-odd-dec-4.html
Angie’s review was very informative and gave a lot of in-depth information on the device discussed in the article. I also appreciated how she quickly but effectively described the applications of the new tool and how it can help forensic investigations. Lastly, I enjoyed her thoughts on the article’s strengths and found that, upon looking back at the article, the praise was thought out well and I found myself agreeing with it.
One thing that could be improved about the review is the formatting. I found it somewhat difficult to separate each section of the review because the summary and real-world significance was somewhat clumped together. Additionally, there were a couple of issues with grammar, though that can be easily mended with a good proofreading program. Despite these minor critiques, the review as a whole was well done.
The MagLev device appears to have massive potential in the world of forensic science, and the fact that it is incredibly precise and reliable at separating various drugs or chemicals and identifying each individual component. I think that this will make up for the setbacks of other drug tests mentioned in the review such as immunoassays and I look forward to hearing more about it.
Riley Morgan
Mr Ippolito
Bio 2 current event
01/05/20
Harvard University. "Detecting tiny amounts of fentanyl." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 November 2019. .
https://bhscsi.blogspot.com/
The review Angie Pearson performed on the article: "Detecting tiny amounts of fentanyl." was very interesting and informative. She discusses a new device that can identify smaller concentrations of drug powders than any other device. I like how she was straightforward with the information. When she stated how its “extremely useful for forensic chemists and law enforcement because street drugs usually mixtures of several different drugs”. it was a good way to put the information because it was a bunch of information packed into one sentence. I also appreciate how she was able to captivate the reader by using captivating words at the beginning like portable, and cost-effective. She did a good job stating things in her article that could have been improved and fixed in the future.
One thing Angie could improve on is explaining how and why she chose the article. She did not provide any reasoning behind her decision to write about it. Angie’s Analysis was also very short and didn't provide the detail she needed to do the article justice. She could provide a longer analysis that makes the reader feel she has read the full article and knows what it is about. She also did not state the importance of the article. To improve, Angie could spend more time talking about the details explained as well as making more connections as to why she chose the article and insert the importance to deepen her analysis.
I chose this article because it was very interesting and I enjoy reading things like this. I also wanted to see Angie’s writing style as I have never looked at one of her reviews before. By reading this article I learned about the new device that can identify smaller concentrations of drug powders than any other device. It will change my perception because now I have another piece of knowledge that I can use.
Tyler Tanaka-Wong
Mr. Ippolito
Forensic Science
September 15, 2021
Current Event #1:
Harvard University. "Detecting tiny amounts of fentanyl." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 November 2019.
https://bhscsi.blogspot.com/2019/12/angie-pearson-forensics-d-odd-dec-4.html
For this current event, I read Angie Pearson’s summary on “Detecting tiny amounts of fentanyl”. She was able to explain concise fashion how a new technology can detect small amounts of drugs. First she introduces this new device. Named Magneto-Archimedes Levitation (or MagLev), it is very portable, cost-efficient, and easy to use. Angie included some statistics in her review, stating that this device is able to detect very dangerous substances such as fentanyl, which has killed more than 28,000 people in 2017. In addition, she describes the uses and benefits of using this device, stating that the MagLev device can separate seven different substances at a time, which is extremely useful for forensic chemists and law enforcement because street drugs usually contain mixtures of several different drugs.
I think she could have made this review even better by adding more comparisons between the performance of this new device and all of the previous methods used to detect drugs. Also, this review could have been made better by including less run-on sentences. Sometimes, her claim was lost in the long sentences, making it slightly difficult to understand what she wants to say in her details.
This article was especially intriguing to me because I am pretty unaware of these types of devices, but I am very interested in technology so I enjoyed learning about this. Drug abuse is a growing problem around the world, so I believe that devices like MagLev will have huge implications on the mitigation of growing drug abuse and drug related crimes.
Post a Comment