Practising with have / has got

 

The king has got a crown.

The bee has got wings.

The bus has got wheels.

The cat has got a tail.

The rabbit has got ears.

The frog is green.

The goat has got a small tail.

The hen has got a beak.

The ant is very small.

The owl  has got a branch.

The lamp  has got a bulb.

The Yak has got horns.

The van is blue and has got a door.

The boat has got rows.

The book has got pages.

The chest has got money.

The sky has got clouds.

The snowman has got a hat

The fox has got a big tail.

The kite has got colors.

The tree has got leaves.

The dog has got a bone.

The dog has got a collar.

The girl has long hair.

BODY IDIOMS

KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE

Meaning: A serious expression on your face that you use when you do not want someone to know that you think something is funny

Ex. It was difficult to keep a straight face when I played that prank on my coworkers.

 

KEEP A EYE ON STH

Meaning: to watch carefully for something

Ex: Please keep an eye on my bag.

 

CATCH’S SOMEONE’S EYE

Meaning: to cause someone to notice something or someone.

Ex: I was looking around the store for a present for my mom, and this book caught my eye.

PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN ABOUT STH

Meaning: to use your authority to stop something happening.

Ex: When she started borrowing my clothes without asking, I had to put my foot down.

PUT YOUR FOOT IN IT

Meaning: to say something by accident that embarrasses or upsets someone

Ex: I really put my foot in my mouth – I asked her if Jane was her mother, but she said Jane is her sister.

 

COME FACE TO FACE

Meaning: Directly meeting someone in the same place.

Ex: We've spoken on the phone but never face-to-face.

She came face-to-face with her attacker in the courtroom

 

SEE EYE TO EYE

Meaning: to agree fully with someone

• be in full agreement
• to have the same views about something

Ex: Though they work as a team, they often don't see eye to eye on most issues.

GET COLD FEET

Meaning: to suddenly become too frightened to do something you had planned to do, especially something important such as getting married

 

GET YOUR HEAD AROUND SOMETHING

Meaning: to succeed in understanding or accepting something such as a new idea

 Ex: We began to get our heads around what we were facing and how we would fight it.

email example

 

Hi .........,

Thanks for your email. I am very happy to know that I will be able to come to your house for my exchange.

First of all I am going to tell you a bit about myself. My name is ..................... , I am .......................years old and I enjoy .............................and ............................ I my free time I like hanging out with friends and spending time with the people I love.

The reason why I have chosen to be an exchange student is because I really believe that if you want to learn a new language, the best way to do it is by living abroad because once there you are always in contact with the foreign language. You can read books, watch television and talk to the family all the time. Unfortunately, it’s quite difficult at the beginning but, later on you get used to it.

Anyway, that’s all for now. If you want to know anything else about myself, write me back.

Regards,

..............................

CHOMSKY: UNIVERSAL GRAMMAR

Universal grammar.

Find attached a video from Chomsky about Universal grammar.

Genetic property that distinguishes people from animals .

How we are capable of learning?

We have a sort of computer in our brain than leads us to learn. 

Have a look at it. It is worth it. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbKO-9n5qmc

REWRITING SENTENCES USING THE WORDS IN BRACKETS AND KEEPING THE SAME MEANING

Rewriting sentences using the words in brackets.

          (Keep the same meaning) 

• During our conversation. Dave sent me a text message. (Talking)
• Dave sent me a text message while we were talking .

• There is not much chance of rain tomorrow. (Probably) 
• It won't probably rain tomorrow.

• Tom called Sue two hours ago, and they are still talking on the phone. (for)

• Tom called Sue and they have been talking on the phone for two hours.

•  Are you meeting your friends tonight? (going)
•  Are you going to meet your friends tonight?

• We bought this house in 2005. ( owned)
• We have owned this house since 2005.

• I commented on Etan's photos after seeing them on Facebook (seen)
• I commented on Etan's photos after I had seen them on Facebook.

• This isn't my phone. (belong)
• This phone doesn't belong to me.

• How long have you known Angela? (Meet)
• When did you meet Angela?

Present perfect vs Present perfect continuous 

We use both of these tenses for finished and unfinished actions.

The present perfect simple can be used (with 'since' and 'for') to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past and are still happening in the present. It's often used with stative verbs: I've known Martha for three years.

The present perfect continuous can also be used (with 'since' and 'for') to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past and are still happening in the present. (We don't use the present perfect continuous with stative verbs): She's been living here for three years.

Sometimes there's really no difference in meaning between the two tenses. Especially  with verbs as 'live', 'work' and 'study':

• They've lived in London since 2004.
• They've been living in London since 2004.

Sometimes, there is a difference in meaning:

The present perfect continuous can be used to emphasise the length of time that has passed. The present perfect simple is generally neutral:

• They've been waiting for hours! (This emphasises the length of time).
• They've waited for hours. (This doesn't emphasise the length of time).

The present perfect simple is often used when we're talking about how much or how many. This is NOT possible with the present perfect continuous:

• She's drunk three cups of coffee this morning
• (NOT: she's been drinking three cups of coffee this morning).

We use 'yet' and 'already' with the present perfect simple:

• Have you read the book yet?
• She's finished her work already.

This difference is often used to talk about different kinds of results in the present. The present perfect simple is used when the action is finished, and the result comes from the action being finished:

• I've eaten dinner, so let's go out.
• She's done all her homework, so she can relax this evening.
• I've made a cake. Would you like some?

The present perfect continuous is used when the result comes from the action itself. It doesn't matter if the whole action is finished or not. The result is often something we can see, hear, smell, or feel:

• I've been eating dinner, so there are plates all over the table.
• She's been doing her homework, so she's tired.
• I've been making a cake, that's why the kitchen is such a mess.

EXEMPLE

What does Diana think of your idea?

I don't know. She hasn't answered my message yet.

Are Saul and Lily a couple?

No, they are just friends . They have known each other for years.

Hey, how did he get so good at football?

He has been playing with his brothers all his life!

Do you and Juliet feel like going to that new action film?

No, thanks. We have already seen it.

Why don't you answer the phone?

Sorry. It has been on silent since last night.

Why are you going to bed so early?

Because I am tired . I have been working on this project for hours.

"SPOT" MEANING AND COLLOCATIONS

 Today some sentences to see the different meanings of the word "spot".

-as a noun, a spot is a mark that is a different color.

• A leopard has spots.

- as a noun, a spot is a place, location, or area.

• This is a great spot for camping.

-as a verb, spot is an informal way to talk about seeing or detecting.

• He spotted an eagle in the sky.

There are also a great number of collocations with spot.

Sometimes we want to say that a certain spot, a certain place, is great for a particular purpose. We can say it’s a good/great/ideal/perfect spot:

• The camping site is an ideal spot for kids to play.

In case we would like to emphasize the accuracy of a specific spot, we can talk about the exact/precise spot:

• This is the exact spot where the battle took place.

When people or yourself enjoy a place, you can refer to it as a popular spot:

• My favorite spot to stay is at the beach under a palm tree.

We can talk about a sunny/shady spot depending on the sun:

• Let’s find a shady spot for our picnic.

When talking about an isolated place, we can say it’s a deserted/lonely spot. These words have a somewhat negative connotation, isolation is considered to be a bad thing. If we want to describe the isolation as a good thing, we can call it a secluded spot.

There’s also the expression a remote spot to describe a place that is far from other places.

• We bought a house in a secluded spot near the mountain lake !

You can also find an expression called "soft spot" which is used to describe an area of emotion, usually special affection:

• I have a soft spot for old people.

ENGLISH ADJECTIVES -ED/ING

 Hi all!

Today a bit of an explanation about when to use adjectives with -ed and adjectives when -ing in English.

Adjectives

-ed/ -ing

I am interested in modern art /  Modern art is interesting

I am excited about tomorrow/ This is an exciting book

He is bored/ The film was boring.

So- ed describes the person who suffers the feeling  and -ing the feeling provoked by something.

See the table below

Annoy: I don’t get annoyed easily	Annoying: Noisy people can be annoying.
Amazed: I am amazed by your talent	Amazing: The concert was amazing
Confused: I asked my teacher but I was still confused.	Confusing: This book is really confusing
Disappointed: I was disappointed by the weather yesterday	Disappointing: Yesterday, the weather was disappointing.
Surprised: I was surprised to see you	I heard some surprising news
Amused: The clown amused the children for hours.	Amusing : The game is very amusing I was amused by the amusing game.
Thrilled . I was thrilled by the film	Thrilling . The film was really thrilling

Some more examples

1. My cousin was (amusing / amused) by the clown.

2. It’s so (frustrating / frustrated)! No matter how much I study I can’t remember the lesson.

3. This film is so (boring / bored)!

4. I’m feeling (tired / tiring), so I’m going home.

5. I thought her new idea was really (thrilled / thrilling)

Young Plasma Infusions Safe and Potentially Helpful, Small Trial Finds

FONT:  https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2020/07/22/young-plasma-infusions-safe-potentially-helpful-parkinsons-patients-phase-1-trial/

Transfusiones de plasma de adultos jóvenes , seguras y potencialmente útiles en pacientes con Parkinson.

Se estima que las transfusiones de plasma procedentes de adultos jóvenes es algo bien tolerado y seguro  por parte de pacientes con la enfermedad de Parkinson en una fase no muy avanzada de la enfermedad.

Resultados de una investigacion reciente muestran que estas transfusiones no sólo son beneficiosas para mitigar los síntomas de la enfermedad, sinó que también serían  útiles para pacientes con riesgo de Covid -19.

El estudio  “Safety of Plasma Infusions in Parkinson’s Disease,” fue publicado en el periódico Movement Disorders.

A inicios del siglo veinte se descubrió que el plasma procedente de pacientes que habían superado la gripe en España contenía anticuerpos que podrían ser utilizados para mitigar los síntomas de la enfermedad en otros pacientes.

Este enfoque conocido como "Terapia convalescente con plasma"se ha utilizado en muchas enfermedades virales cuando no existían tratamientos, incluyendo el coronavirus’ SARS y MERS. Estudios recientes sugieren que puede ser algo prometedor para mitigar los sintomas del COVID-19.

El plasma no sólo contiene anticuerpos contra enfermedades sino que contiene sales, compuestos orgánicos, agua y más de mil proteinas .

Existen pruebas evidentes  de estudios realizados en roedores que muestran que dicho plasma reduce la inflamación cerebral en animales y tiene efectos beneficiosos en las funciones cognitivas en la enfermedad de Alzheimer. El tratamiento es bien tolerado en pacientes con esta enfermedad,  pero si funcionaría en pacientes con Parkinson todavía aún se desconoce.

Investigadores de la Universidad de Stanford ( Stanford University School of Medicine) llevaron a cabo la primera fase de un ensayo clínico con 15 pacientes de Parkinson en una fase moderada de la enfermedad . Todos ellos llevaban  más de dos años diagnosticados con la enfermedad y estaban en tratamiento con dopamínicos o estimulación cerebral profunda (DBS).

La media de edad de los pacientes era de 63 años , y la enfermedad la padecían desde una media de ocho años. 

Los participantes recibieron transfusiones de plasma (unos  250 ml), dos veces a la semana durante cuatro semanas. El plasma fue donado por hombres de edades comprendidas entre los 18 y 25 años .

El principal objetivo del estudio era mostrar la seguridad, tolerancia y viabilidad de las transfusiones de plasma en estos pacientes. Resultados de la investigación muestran cambios en la función motora, cognitiva, estado de ánimo, calidad de vida  y en los marcadores de inflamación  de la circulación sanguínea.

Dichos resultados mostraron que las transfusiones eran seguras y bien toleradas sin reacciones adversas a considerar . Algunas de estas reacciones adversas eran reacciones cutáneas, movimientos involuntarios y síntomas del sistema músculo-esquelético y sistema nervioso central.

Analíticas, función hepática y renal no se veían alteradas en las transfusiones.

Entre los 53 efectos secundarios menores, solo 1/4 se asociaba probablemente al tratamiento.

Signos preliminares  de evolución se observaron  en la fluidez de los fonemas y en el estigma tras detener el tratamiento y reactivarlo al cabo de un mes.

Otras mejoras significativas se observaron en las funciones motoras de los pacientes pero  estos datos no se reportaron como significativos.

Los participantes no experienciaron ningun tipo de complicación relacionada con la terapia de plasma ni enlentecimiento o torpeza de la marcha . Entre los 12 pacientes que sufrían bradiquinesia no se observarm cambios significativos.

Este estudio se estima ser el primer estudio realizado con transfusión de plasma de adultos jóvenes  en pacientes con Parkinson siendo seguro, bien tolerado y viable, sin efectos secundarios graves y con porenciales efectos terapéuticos.

Este estudio garantiza futuras investigaciones sobre los efectos anti-inflamatorios del plasma en estudios clínicos a mayor escala y da soporte al uso de la terapia con plasma con precaución en pacientes con Parkinson con graves manifestaciones de  COVID-19.

SCIENTISTS HAVE UNCOVERED A NEW THERAPEUTIC MOLECULE CALLED BT13 TO HELP PATIENTS WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE

UN GRUPO DE CIENTÍFICOS HAN DESCUBIERTO UNA NUEVA MOLÉCULA LLAMADA BT13 QUE PODRÍA AYUDAR A PACIENTES CON LA ENFERMEDAD DE PARKINSON.

Fuente:  https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2020/02/21/scientists-uncover-new-possible-therapeutic-molecule-parkinsons-disease-say-bt13-may-protect-against-neurodegeneration/

Un grupo de científicos han descubierto una nueva molécula terapéutica llamada BT13, que si llega al cerebro puede incrementar los niveles de dopamina.  La dopamina es un  compuesto químico del cerebro que se encuentra  en poca cantidad en los pacientes con la enfermedad de Parkinson y podría protegerles de forma potencial contra la neurodegeneración que la enfermedad provoca.

A pesar de que dicha investigación se encuentra en una fase muy inicial y la molécula ha sido probada únicamente en ratones y en modelos de células enfermas, los investigadores consideran que  la BT13 es una molécula prometedora para ralentizar e incluso detener el Parkinson y no sólo para tratar los síntomas de la enfermedad.

Los resultados de esta investigación se describen en el estudio llamado, “Glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor receptor Rearranged during transfection agonist supports dopamine neurons in Vitro and enhances dopamine release In Vivo,” publicadadas en Movement Disorders.

Las pruebas muestran que una pequeña proteina llamada  GDNF, (factor neurotrófico obtenido de la línea celular glial)  favorece el crecimiento y la supervivencia de las neuronas dopamínicas — que son las que producen dopamina y que de forma progresiva se van degenerando en la enfermedad de Parkinson.

En animales con la enfermedad y en ensayos clínicos realizados en humanos, se muestra como la proteina GDNF tiene efecto neuroprotector.

De todos modos, debido a su gran tamaño,  la GDNF no puede cruzar la barrera hematoencefálica (BBB),  y se precisa de una compleja cirugía para que dicho tratamiento llegue al cerebro . La barrera hematoencefálica (BBB) es una membrana semipermeable que protege el cerebro del medio exterior pero también resulta un obstáculo para terapias que podrían ser efectivas si pudieran alcanzar el cerebro y se pudiera trabajar con el sistema nervioso.

La molécula BT13, es una molécula que combina la misma señal receptora- pero es mucho más pequeña que la GDNF. Los investigadores dicen que la molécula BT13 tiene potencial para producir el mismo efecto neuroprotector que la GDNF y podría cruzar de forma más fácil la barrera hematoencefálica.

Un equipo de científicos de la Universidad de Helsinki en Finlandia ha iniciado un ensayo para estudiar los efectos de esta molécula en células nerviosas  en ratones.

Los resultados rebelan que  tras combinar los receptores RET, y la molécula  BT13 se disparan una serie de señales en cascada que permiten la supervivencia de las células dopamínicas y el aumento de las mismas. De todos modos , si  existe una falta de  estos receptores RET la molécula BT13 no hace efecto.

Dicha molécula BT13 parece ser capaz de proteger contra la neurodegeneración de la enfermedad de Parkinson que fue simulada en laboratorios exponiendo neuronas dopamínicas  a la Oxidopamina ( 6-OHDA)  y a un MPP (procesador paralelo masivo) — ambas neurotoxinas inducen a la muerte celular. Se observó que la molécula, BT13 sólo protegía a dichas neuronas ante la existencia del receptor RET .

Además cuando se administró dicha molécula BT13 en ratones- a través de una inyección directa al cerebro- ésta era capaz de cruzar la barrera hematoencefálica. 

Una vez en el cerebro activaba la supervivencia de células dopamínicas y el crecimiento de éstas promoviendo la liberación de dopamina desde el striarum del animal, que es un sistema de control del cerebro que se ve afectado en la enfermedad de Parkinson.

“Los pacientes con Parkinson precisan de forma urgente de un tratamiento que pueda detener la enfermedad y no sólo enmascarar los síntomas de la misma. Uno de los mayores retos para el Parkinson es como obtener medicamentos  que puedan cruzar la barrera hematoencefálica, por eso  el descubrimiento de esta molécula ha abierto una brecha de esperanza para detener la enfermedad o ralentizarla" 

“Estamos trabajando constantemente en la efectividad de dicha molécula BT13,” “Estamos llevando a cabo pruebas con compuestos similares a la BT13 , que se estiman que tienen mejores características.

“Nuestro único objetivo es mejorar estos compuestos a través de ensayos clínicos a lo largo de los próximos años".