13.2 New UGA Technology Makes Textiles Germ-Free

What is the new technology?

• A treatment to “inexpensively render medical linens and clothing, face masks, paper towels, diapers, intimate apparel, and athletic wear, including smelly socks—permanently germ free.”

How it works?

• The technology is a spray-on permanent treatment using UV light that can be applied before or after the manufacturing process and will not wash out. This can be compared to other products that start to disappear after 3 or 4 washes, are too expensive, and can only be applied during the manufacturing process. 
• The treatment uses inexpensive chemistry to kill off and prevent the production of bacteria, yeasts, and molds that are harmful to users.
• If taken off, it can be reapplied.

 What can it be applied to?

• Clothes, military apparel and gear, food packaging, plastic furniture, pool toys, medical and dental instrumentation, bandages, and plastic items.

Who invented the new technology?

• Jason Locklin, an assistant professor of chemistry in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and on the Faculty of Engineering

Why is it important?

• The spreading of bacteria in hotels, at home, and at health care facilities is a growing concern. “One in 20 hospitalized patients will contract a health-care-associated infection.” The bacteria gets trapped in lab coats, scrubs, uniforms, gloves, and linens.
• A test of the treatment showed after one application staph, strep, E. coli, pseudomonas, and acetinobacter did not develop after 24 hours at 37 degrees Celsius and after several washes and dries.

How does a company obtain the technology?

• The treatment is available for licensing from the University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc. (UGARF)

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is using UV light with help of a topical gel that destroys the hair follicle, preventing hair from growing in that area. Similar to the germ-free technology, laser hair removal both removes and uses technology to do so. 

4.6 Quantitative Study of Females: Ethnicity and Its Influence on Body Image, Thin-Internalization, and Social Comparison

Point of the study:

Does ethnicity influence body image, thin-internalization, and social comparison and does social comparison influence body image and thin-internalization among women?

Background:

Caucasian Women (CA) are said to have lower body images than African American women (AA). The fashion industry is largely to blame for the “thin is in” social message. However research shows that AA women are more satisfied with their bodies. Is this discrepancy due to the strong ethnic identity in the AA culture? Does this effect what women believe to be the “standard of beauty?”

What do these terms mean?

Body Image: “the mental picture we have of our bodies that affects the perception of our physical appearance and even how others perceive us.”

 Thin-internalization: “the extent to which an individual cognitively ‘buys into’ social defined ideas of attractiveness and engages in behaviors designed to produce an approximation of these ideals.”

Social Comparison: “when individuals seek to compare themselves with someone against whom they believe should have reasonable similarity”

How Was the Study Conducted?

Surveys were given to women ages 18 or older. 120 participants were CA and 117 were AA. These participants were mostly students, although they were encouraged to share with friends and family.

Results:

• Not a large difference in body image between CA and AA women (not supporting previous research)
• CA women place a larger value on thin-internalization than AA women. Pressures and social stereotypes have more of an effect on CA than AA women (supports previous research)
• AA women view beauty in terms of personality and other traits
• People make comparisons with those they believe they are similar to. The lack of representation of AA women in media means that they overlook the ideal ‘thin is in’ social message because they do not see a clear comparison or representation of themselves
• CA women compare themselves to others more often than AA women.
• Social comparison does NOT have a large influence on body image and thin-internalization. There must be other factors affecting this.

Gay Relationships/Marriage

The reality of gay and lesbian marriage can be relatable to this topic in the way it incorporates the ideas of social norms, stereotypes, and what is commercialized in society. The same way women are given role models for their figure which differs between races, people are given certain standards as to what marriage is. It is in magazines, on the news, in our movies and in our lives everyday. We have these social comparisons that we hold ourselves to, whether consciously or not, when encountering our feelings of love towards another person. So, for people to go against these “social norms”, like they did at some point in time, made an uproar amongst society. This can ALSO include differences among races such as it did in the article of body image. These social comparisons cause people to look down on themselves if they do not fit the social standards of a perfect, man and women marriage. But instead, as for body image or love, we should embrace who we are as individuals, with unique bodies or unique feelings, not constantly tweak ourselves to be “perfect”.