Stem Cell Research Legislaion Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Stem Cell Legislaion - Research Paper Example However, actual research on stem cells began in the 1960s and the 1970’s when treatment of many immunodeficiency conditions and leukemia was sought from stem cells (UK Stem Cell Foundation 2011). In general, at that time, since the scope of stem cell research was huge and could also be life-saving in certain circumstances, people recommended using such technology. Even today, several diseases such as cancer, heart disease, etc, are incurable and a stem cell research may offer a chance. Not only are the people looking towards the government to permit the use of this technology, but also federal funding is being sought to sponsor this technology. In one patient who was suffering from HIV/AIDS, the use of stem cells from a person who had a resistant gene variant helped the patient to stop taking antiviral medications. However, the use of embryonic stem cells poses a lot of ethical issues as they have the potential to form life (Research America 2012). Stem cell research is not pr o-life and often the promises that they offer are not evidence-based and only distance possibilities. No cure for any disease has been obtained from stem cell research nor has this form of research proceeded beyond laboratory animals. When George W Bush had taken the office in 2001, he enacted a ban on stem cell research with an intention of ending federal funding on it as it involved destroying human life. Here since human life was being used merely for the sake of experimentation and harvesting body parts, the Congress sought for the ban on stem cells (Wertz, 2002). However, the Congress sought the use of stem cells without destroying embryonic cells that had the potential to transform into human beings. In 2004, the California Institute for Regenerative medicine was setup in order to regulate the research findings and the research facilities. Institutions seeking financing fro stem cell research have to approach the California Institute for Regenerative medicine. In 2007, the Bus h Administration sought the reversal of the earlier policy which sought to inhibit the federal spending on stem cell obtained from human embryos. In 2009, Barack Obama signed the executive order that permitted stem cell research on human embryos. In 2011, greater clarification on the federal funding was being sought as federal funds could only be spent on researching stem cells and not destroying the human embryos (American Association for the Advancement of Science 2011). 2. How does it compare to comparable statutes in the rest of the world? The US is not the only nation to have a problem with regulating stem cell research and many other nations including the EU may ban stem cell research derived from embryonic stem cells. Many of the governments across the world have been funding stem cells research. In China, stem cell therapy centers are present which uses stem cells from umbilicus or autologously generated for treating several disorders such as Parkinsonism and cerebral plays. In Australia, informed consent is required from the couple undergoing IVF for stem cell research and only those embryonic cells that are going to be wasted can be used for stem cell research. During clinical research trials, the embryonic stem cells donated by the users can be used only after taking informed consent. Any embryo that is fertilized within a women’

Smart Fabric Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Smart Fabric - Research Paper Example These fabrics are created in such a way that they can control heating and cooling. These fabrics can be used in medicine, sports, military uniforms among others. The technology in these fabrics is such that it can react to sounds, actions and movement. These textiles have been applied in healthcare, communication, music and in recent research it could be used in military. Smart fabrics are a promise of revolution for lifestyle, commerce and physical conditions of individuals (Nugent, 2006). While smart clothes offer a wide range of advantages if incorporated in the textile industry, it faces two major setbacks: unpredictability and unobtrusiveness. After years of research, finally a wearable clothing electronic system is coming up (Surhone,2010). This will provide a stable setting for commercial applications. Currently, the available solutions are mostly focused on the fitness sector and also heartbeat rate supervision through clothing electrodes. There is research working on developing a fabric or belt that will help monitor a baby’s heart rate before they are born. This will fit more in a lifestyle aspect of smart fabric application than in a medical one since monitoring the heartbeat may not be a medical requirement. In turn, it could lead to a fabric or belt that helps monitor difficult pregnancies (Plunkett, 2008). Truth is, fabrics envelop every aspect of our lives be it security, fashion, trends, sports, or health and hence, it should be convenient and accessible at all times. There is touch sensitive fabric that has been created (Lymberis, 2004). It has all qualities of ordinary fabrics, but the inclusion of to uch sensors makes it more versatile, innovative and desirable. These effects transform the fabric from a simple product to a high-tech interaction device which can be applied in many sectors in life (Surhone,2010). D3O, a non-Newtonian fluid, has been incorporated in some smart fabrics over time. Smart fabrics with this fluid embedded in them help protect the individual wearing it during impacts such as collisions, car accident and falls. This is because the fluid has properties that make it safe and reliable during impact. It moves slowly, but on shock, it locks itself together and absorbs shock to disband energy. This aspect of the fluid has seen it sawn on seams and linings of sporting gears that are dangerous and are prone to falls such as skiing (Plunkett, 2008). The energy produced during the fall is spread throughout the polymer, and through the chemical process, the energy is distributed throughout the matrix of the gears and thus reduces the expected impact. Smart fabrics a re textiles that have embedded sensors to create exceptional products that help individuals not only monitor their health, but also stay in touch with technology. It is important to understand the types of sensors available (Lymberis, 2004). Sensors are devices that react and give responses to physical stimuli such as magnetic fields, noise, defined movement, light and heat and, in turn, send out a resultant impulse to measure or manage a control. There are three types of sensors: Extrinsic Fabry-Perot (EFPI), Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG), and Ling Period Grating Sensor (LPG). These sensors are embedded into the fabrics in many different ways such as weaving them with other fabric yarn also known as battery fabric, crimpling them into fabric and weave designing. The EFPI and FBG sensors have the best qualities as at now to embed in fabrics, to make smart materials (Nambisan, 2007). The EFPI sensor helps measure temperature,