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The Importance of Keeping a Rainy-Day Fund

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Have you ever thought about how you’d cope financially if you were to lose your job? Do you have a nest-egg set aside to keep you afloat if you were suddenly faced with a medical emergency? If not, it sounds like you need to build an emergency fund. Also called a rainy-day fund, it’s defined as a sum of money that’s set aside for unpredictable and unplanned for expenses. The money should be liquid (meaning it should be easy to access) so it’s best to keep it in cash or in a current account. The importance of keeping this available cash shouldn’t be overlooked for the following reasons.

An Investment for Your Future

It is important to see your rainy-day fund as a potential investment, even if you are not a high-income earner. For instance, many parents look forward to putting their kids through college, but student loans can be difficult to repay, even if you end up borrowing from a program and qualifying for Parent PLUS Loan Forgiveness or deferment.  These repayments can end up costing more than you anticipated and, suddenly, the savings you put aside for your children’s future can start to disappear. If you have a dedicated rainy-day fund, it can soften the blow and keep you in a position of power to reorganize your finances and provide a secure future for your family.

Helps with Unforeseen Expenditure

On a surface level, putting something aside for unexpected events may seem like a waste of funds that you might use better elsewhere in your daily life. You might have debts mounting up that you are struggling to keep on top of. But, even in these circumstances, putting something aside for the worst-case scenario can help later on. We have little power over what we cannot predict, such as medical issues that can strike at any time, at any age. If you own your own home, you’ll likely already be aware that you cannot always anticipate where your next major maintenance issue is going to come from. Even if you feel on top of your budget, there are sometimes things we overlook. Ultimately, beyond mere superstition, having money put aside can ensure you’ve got more power over the worst-case scenarios.

Business Owners Can Through Quiet Times

It is a wonderful thing to be self-employed, but such autonomy comes with a price. Even when things are going well, there is always the possibility of business slowing down. For some self-employed business owners, finances can fluctuate dramatically, and there’s nothing more demoralizing than draining the resources you’ve worked so hard to build. Having something put by for these times can offer great peace of mind and the breathing space to plan your next move. It also trains you to budget in a professional manner and re-evaluate your budgets with a growth mentality.

Your Safety Net

Having financial peace of mind is the ultimate goal and having the safety net fund is one of the best ways of ensuring that money never causes you too much stress. If you are the sole breadwinner in your house and you lose your job, your fund will give you the breathing space you need until you find a new job. If you get sick and have to take time off from work, this will get you through and allow you to keep up with your loan repayments and monthly expenses. Whatever your circumstances, it can be your lifeline you can grab hold of in those times when you need quick cash.

Michelle has been a part of the journey ever since Bigtime Daily started. As a strong learner and passionate writer, she contributes her editing skills for the news agency. She also jots down intellectual pieces from categories such as science and health.

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Applications of Automation in Research and Clinical Diagnostics

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Precision counts in the fields of science and medicine. This is particularly true for the basic task of counting and analyzing cells, which is used in both clinical and research settings. The introduction of automatic cell counters, which provide efficiency and accuracy that manual approaches cannot match, has resulted in a notable advancement in this field.

What is Automated Cell Counting?

Automated cell counters are advanced instruments that are made to precisely and swiftly count and examine cells. In contrast to manual counting methods that rely on human vision and a microscope, automated counters use software algorithms and image technology to count and analyze cells. This ensures more accurate findings by expediting the procedure and lowering the possibility of human error.

Type of Automated Cell Counters

There are several types of automated cell counters used in research and clinical diagnostics, each employing different technologies and methods for cell counting. The main types of automated cell counters include:

Image Cytometers: These devices use optical microscopy to statically image cells, which are frequently labeled to detect certain molecules or provide contrast. Cell counting is aided by the automation of image cytometers made possible by digital cameras.
Flow Cytometers: Use a regulated flow of suspended cells to align individual cells for analysis. Staining cells with fluorochromes enables visual characterization of the cells and facilitates high-throughput analysis.
Cell Sorters: Arrange cells according to their electrical properties. Sorting is accomplished by dividing the fluid stream containing the cells into droplets whose electrical charge varies according to the kind of cell and guiding them into various containers.
Time-Lapse Cytometers: Allow for continuous monitoring of cells in an incubator by employing non-heat-generating light sources, such as LEDs, in conjunction with image cytometry to investigate cellular dynamics without causing damage to living cells.
Hemocytometers: A qualified technician, an optical microscope, and a gridded slide with known volume wells are used in this manual cell counting approach. Up until the 1950s, hemocytometers were the norm for counting cells.

These various types of automated cell counters provide effective and precise methods for cell counting and analysis, each with unique benefits and uses in clinical and research environments.

Research

Automated cell counters have become indispensable tools in understanding cell behavior. They are used in various research fields, including cancer research, drug discovery, and stem cell therapy.

One of the key benefits in research is the ability to handle large volumes of data. For instance, in drug discovery, automated counters can quickly analyze the effects of thousands of compounds on cell growth and death. This high-throughput capability accelerates the pace of research, allowing scientists to screen potential drugs more efficiently than ever before.

Moreover, automated cell counters offer the precision required to detect subtle changes in cell populations. This is crucial in fields like cancer research, where understanding the behavior of cancer cells can lead to the development of more effective treatments.

Clinical Diagnostics

The impact of automated cell counters extends beyond the research laboratory and into clinical diagnostics. In medical laboratories, these devices play a critical role in routine blood tests, infectious disease diagnostics, and monitoring patient health during treatment.

For example, in a routine complete blood count (CBC), automated cell counters can quickly provide a detailed analysis of different blood cell types. This information is vital for diagnosing conditions such as anemia, infections, and blood cancers. The speed and accuracy of automated counters mean that patients can receive diagnoses and begin treatment more swiftly.

In the context of infectious diseases, automated counters can detect and quantify specific pathogens or immune cells, helping to diagnose infections quickly and accurately. During the COVID-19 pandemic, automated cell counting technologies were instrumental in monitoring virus spread and patients’ immune responses, showcasing their value in crisis situations.

Challenges and Future Directions

The initial cost of these devices can be high, and their operation requires specific technical expertise. Additionally, different types of cells and conditions may require customized counting protocols, necessitating ongoing adjustments and updates to software algorithms.

 

Looking ahead, ongoing advancements in technology promise to further enhance the capabilities of automated cell counters. The global cell counting market growth is anticipated at a CAGR of 7.5% by 2032. Innovations in imaging technology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are expected to improve accuracy, speed, and the ability to analyze more complex cell characteristics. As these technologies evolve, automated cell counters will become even more integral to research and diagnostics, opening new avenues for scientific discovery and patient care.

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