[network] @jwatson; text; Morning 167 [open]

[jumpthegun]

Good morning, everyone. I told a number of people I would share the results of my conversation with the Admin, Eve, regarding her ability to correct 'mental imbalances' that might lead to violent impulses. I thought it best to provide what information I got from her with the whole group.

[This conversation is copied over for everyone.]

The upshot of that:

• Eve can 'fine tune' the nanites in our brains for a particular purpose. This will have no effect on MN poisoning symptoms except to make people not care about them.
  
• Use of the treatment requires patient consent. That's non-negotiable given the requirements for a declaration of mental incompetency under the NIMA system.
  
• While the fine tuning is considered an ethical treatment in extreme cases of violent psychopathy, it is considered unethical to try to treat MN Poisoning.
  
• We may be able to alleviate some of the worst instances of MN Poisoning with blood transfusions. I'm presently looking for the equipment I'd need to do that.
  
• Eve was born in Washington D.C. and used to work for the U.S. government.

As an additional note on medical supplies: I've informed the other doctors, but for those newly arrived and those seeking medical assistance, we are beginning to run low on certain medication types.

[Another conversation is copied over.]

The relative medical stocks stand as such:

• Low-grade Painkillers: Low
  
• Mid-grade Painkillers: Acceptable, restock requested
  
• High-grade Painkillers: Acceptable
  
• Specialized Medication: Acceptable
  
• Radiation Medication: Critically low

I've also been previously informed that the emergency medical response injections are out and will take 200 days to restock. That was at a point that would put us past the projected end of this session... or whatever we're calling out time here.

Comments

[jumpthegun]

That's exactly what we need, yeah! Blood type is important because only certain kinds of blood can be shared or it'll make the person you're donating to sick.

There are four basic blood types that are determined by a certain type of antigen or protein on the surface of your red blood cells. Those are what make up your blood along with a substance called plasma. Basically, they're just special coatings. The blood types are A, B, AB, and O. Those are each subdivided further into positive (+) and negative (-) variations. The variation is dependent on another protein.

When you're transfusing blood, people with negative variations can more easily donate in many cases because people with positive variations can accept both negative and positive variations of their blood type, but people with negative blood types can only receive other negative variations or they'll get sick.

It gets even more complicated when you factor in the four types.

• AB blood types can receive blood from any of the other types. They can donate only to other AB blood types.
  
• A and B blood types can receive blood from their specific type (A to A, and B to B) or O blood types. They can donate their specific type (A to A, and B to B) or AB blood types.
  
• O blood types can receive blood only from other O blood types. They can donate to everyone.

From this we get that O- blood is the international donor - they can give blood to anyone. AB+ is the international receiver - they can receive blood from anyone.

I'm O+, it means that I can donate to anyone with positive blood variations. You're A+, and that means you can safely donate to anyone with A+ or AB+ blood.

[mrcreamsicles]

might want to note this only counts for humans

[jumpthegun]

He's a human who was asking about his human blood-type, but thank you for the clarity, yes.

[mrcreamsicles]

its important ok
maybe hes human and asking about that but what happens if he wonders about the rest huh
do you have any idea what my blood type would be
because i sure dont

[jumpthegun]

Actually, you can ask the Admin that. I was able to get a few people's blood types that way, if not their full medical records.

private;

[mrcreamsicles]

seriously
i was asking rhetorically
my blood is yellow and glowy watson
nobody has blood like that no matter what type it actually is

private;

[jumpthegun]

[That does actually raise an interesting question.]

Anomalous qualities here are suppressed. Do you think maybe the NIMA system would have replaced your blood with something more standard even if it appears the way you remember? Might be worth asking, at least.

private;

[mrcreamsicles]

what the fuck

[He's just gotta stare at that. Replace his blood? Seriously? How is he even supposed to react to that?]

private;

[jumpthegun]

[Is it a stupid idea? This is when he'd usually check with Sherlock, but... well.]

It's just an idea. You don't need to. Sorry.

private;

[mrcreamsicles]

im just going to forget about that entirely

private;

[jumpthegun]

Right. I'll just be sure to clarify it's for humans next time.

[warriorscribe]

[Enoch waits a bit, watching the thread with the other (non-human!) person branch off, hoping to learn something else. When it seems to have come to a stopping point, he replies again.]

I didn't know something as basic as our blood could be so complex! My options are so few, though. It's a shame I can't help more people. I suppose this is something that can't be changed?

[He's ancient, he doesn't know! But he can guess.

It could be worse, he could have had AB, which would be even more limiting...but that doesn't really help him feel less inadequate.]

[jumpthegun]

A+ is the second most-common blood type in the world, just after O+, like mine. As far as limits go, you ended up with a relatively good one, mate. About 1-in-3 people have A+. Negative blood types are far more rare. All together, negative variants make up... 15% of the human population on Earth, if that.

But to answer your question, no. This isn't something that can be changed. It's genetic and came to you through your parents.

[warriorscribe]

Then, I'm glad I can help so many.

[Still wishes he had O-type, though, now that he knows what it means. There's nothing more infuriating than knowing someone needs help and not being able to give it.]

How does this transfusion work? I'm afraid all of this is very new to me.

[jumpthegun]

It's all right. For the most basic idea, we'd insert a needle into one of the veins on your arm and siphon off blood from that into a glass jar through tubing. We'd then transfer that blood into someone else by inserting a needle into them and letting the blood flow. This is all very rudimentary, so we'd be doing it with gravity, rather than anything more sophistication.

[warriorscribe]

I see.

[He makes it sound so simple, he can picture it perfectly.]

And some of our resistance to MN poisoning will transfer to them?

[jumpthegun]

My hypothesis is that people who haven't suffered from the effects of MN Poisoning have more efficient nanomachine scrubbers in their systems. Or more of them, somehow. By transferring healthy blood, we're transferring more blood into the recipient that contains more scrubbers.

It's like sending in a fresh battalion of soldiers when the first is flagging if you're taking the MN Poisoning to be the opposing army.

[warriorscribe]

And so long as the blood is compatible, it will not harm them.

I like this idea - thank you. Hopefully, it will help as many of us as possible escape this place alive.

[jumpthegun]

That's the idea, yeah. There are still risks here, but I think it's one of the best chances we have to sort out the poisoning symptoms on our own. Even if it's only temporary relief. I'll let you know if we get into a position to be able to carry out transfusions, all right? Thanks, Enoch.