biology final assignment

Post a brief paragraph describing why you chose your Research Topic

I decided to research Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) because we are going to be health care providers, it is a very common pediatric disease and because I have a personal experience with the subject. Also, despite having been diagnosed with JIA when I was little, I felt like I knew very little about the disease. My research was very interesting because the etiology, pathogenesis and potential cure(s) remain a mystery to physicians and researchers.  My hope is that as I continue to study Chinese medicine, my understanding of JIA will evolve. 

biology week 12 assignments

 Should “parents take a more active role in designing their children’s immunization schedule”? 

The vaccine schedule for children aged 0-6 approved by the CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommends 25 shots in the first 15 months of life. These 25 shots are recommended because amongst other diseases they immunize against pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, mumps, measles, rubella, rotavirus, polio, and hepatitis B.

The alternative and selective vaccination schedules aren't reviewed or approved by the CDC. However, some parents opt to change the schedule or not vaccinate at all because of a variety of concerns. The most compelling argument that I have heard is the concern that the ingredients in the vaccines are toxic and may compromise the heath of a child. For example ingredients in vaccines include the following:

Preservatives and stabilizers: Since 1968 the United States Code of Federal Regulations (the CFR) has required, in general, the addition of a preservative to multi-dose vials of vaccines.

Thimerosal: an ethylmercury based preservative.

Formaldehyde: may be used as an antimicrobial.

Adjuvants: Aluminum has been used in some vaccines for over 75 years to improve the vaccine's performance by helping to stimulate the body's immune system to produce antibodies.

Egg Protein: If your child has had an allergic reaction to eggs or egg products, you should be sure to discuss this with your child's doctor.

While I believe that vaccinations are a public heath issue, I also think that the state and state agencies should not have any control over people’s bodies.  Especially in the case of parenting and vaccinations. I do not believe that the CDC or the state has the interests of the public when making recommendations. If parents are seeking to wait or not vaccinate I fully respect their choice to make their own decision.

Would you support making vaccination programs “compulsory”? 

No, but especially not under the sate and in the context of a capitalist cultural/ economic system. The state’s interest in ‘protecting’ the bodies of its citizenry are only to serve the interests of the state.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1164794

biology week 11 assignment

How would you prioritize the reintroduction of the American Bison?

From the articles that we read I believe that the ones best suited to lead the reintroduction of the American Bison are the indigenous people that co-inhabit the land. The United States encouraged a policy of genocide against the indigenous peoples by means of momentarily and militarily encouraging the decimation of the bison. The only role that the state ought to play in the reintroduction of the American Bison is to finance the entire endeavor in an act of paying reparations to the native peoples and taking accountability for its genocidal actions.

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/05/09/genocide-other-means-us-army-slaughtered-buffalo-plains-indian-wars-30798

 “World breaks temperature record for June after hottest May”  Are we doing enough to reduce global warming?

Short Answer. NO.

Until we have completely stopped fossil fuel extraction and consumption we have not done enough. Until industrial food production is completely replaced by the local sustainable growing of food we have not done enough. So long as we actively or passively support centralizing power structures, such as the state or economic systems which value accumulation and consumption we will not have the capacity to do enough. 

biology week 10 assignment

What do you think about the “eight-point Deep Ecology Platform”?

I think it would be difficult not agree with the sentiments of the Deep Ecology Platform. I really appreciate the first principle; “The well-being and flourishing of human and nonhuman life on Earth have value in themselves. These values are independent of the usefulness of the nonhuman world for human purposes.” This principle is incredibly oppositional to our dominate western cultural value system which determines worth through a narrow market-minded framework. 

Perhaps the 8 principles just fall a little short of identifying how the diversity of the environment contributes to the realization and survival of human life. The principles seem to be lacking in the ability to reconcile humans as part of an ecological system - to which we are dependent. The platform also has a tone (at least in my opinion) that suggests that humans have an individual moral obligation to adhere to the principles, but not a dependency. Sometimes I wonder if the illusion of the "modernized world" gives us a false confidence in our ability to sustain life beyonds the planets capacity. 

Can you explain why “Ecosystems are both strong and fragile”?

The fragility and interdependency of an ecosystem is precisely that which makes it strong. Meaning that its interdependency allows for an ecosystem to support various life forms, adapt, transform, generate new life forms, etc.. However, that interdependency also makes ecosystems vulnerable to collapse- if one aspect is threatened, the entire system is threatened

biology week 9

How do you feel about western approaches to HIV/AIDS?

I think I am very ignorant to western approaches to HIV/AIDS. I have to admit that I feel entirely unqualified to have much of an opinion on this issue. My lack of knowledge, like so many others, is the result of the fact that sex education in the United States was and continues to be abhorrent in most of the country. When I was in high school the sex ed was based on abstinence-only curriculum, we did not learn about condoms or birth control. It is entirely my responsibility to inform myself, but I think it is also important to recognize that our ignorance to preventative approaches limits the manner in which we seek to find cures.

HIV and AIDS remains taboo and our approaches to the infection and syndrom remain treatment focused. Unfortunately, treatment relies entirely on the antiretroviral drugs which are patented and ridiculously expensive.  

 Are we overly reliant on the expectation of the development of a "cure" for HIV?

I think that we are overly reliant on the development of a "cure" for HIV. It seems to take away from a public heath care approach. I would imagine that if we invested equal resources into HIV and education we would have far few people infected. Additionally, if we de stigmatized sex work, drug use and “risky” sexual practices, I bet we would see far less people contracting HIV.

biology week 8 assignment

Each day you will be required to “loaf around without feeling guilty”.

 I really wish I could complete this assignment. However, at present it is unbearably challenging to loaf around and not feel like I ought to be working on something. It is extraordinarily difficult for me to take a break from studying for my classes. My to-do list is always calling and the pressure to keep up with my classes keeps me on my toes. Additionally since I am not one for cramming, it is necessary for me to study at least a little bit every day. However, this 'assignment' does remind me of the importance of loafing- of feeling comfortable with just being. 

biology week 7 assignments

How sophisticated is our understanding of cancer?

It seems as though we have a very limited understanding of cancer. However, I am sure my opinion would be different if I worked in the field of cancer research and had a better understanding of the strides that have been made.  It seems like what we know about cancer has centered on an approach to treatment that is centered around intervention rather than prevention. Obviously, there are the exceptions like tobacco which have become well known carcinogens because of public education and public heath campaigns.

How does TCM approach cancer different?

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) focuses on the interaction between mind, body and the environment, to prevent and heal from illness. In the United States it is illegal for practicioner of TCM to treat patients for cancer. However, in other countires TCM has been acknowledged as a viable treatement for healing from and treating the associated symptoms of many types of cancer.

Because on my limited knowledge regarding TCM approaches to cancer, I do not know the details in the approaches to treatment. However, research from Australia's University of Western Sydney and the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine has found that Chinese herbal medicine offers significant treatment. The researchers analyzed and reviewed 2,964 human clinical studies that involved 253,434 cancer patients. They found that in a full 1,015 studies or 85% of those that reported on symptoms, TCM treatment resulted in improvement of cancer symptoms with many of those reporting reduced pain. Another 883 studies – 70% – showed increased survival rates. Another 38% showed reduced tumor size, and 28% showed increased quality of life. Another 19% showed lower relapse rates and another 7% showed reduced complications.

biology week 6 assignments

How would you distinguish between living and non-living systems?

Instead of examining phenomena by attempting to break things down into singular organisms, a general living systems theory examines phenomena in terms of the patterns of the relationships of organisms within their environment.

Living systems are open self-organizing systems that have the special characteristics of life and interact with their environment.  A non-living thing or system is one that lacks or has ceased displaying the characteristics of life- the capability for growth, reproduction, respiration, metabolism, and movement. Additionally, living systems are dynamic and are capable of of responding to stimuli or evolve and adapt to their environment. Examples of non-living things are rock, water, and sun.

"DNA doesn't determine race. Society does" Would you agree?

Race is not biological, race is a social construct. Race is ontologically subjective, but epistemologically objective. It is ontologically subjective in that the construction and continued existence of ‘race’ is contingent on society and the collective agreement, imposition, and acceptance of the construction of the concept itself. However, race is very real in society and has different meaning that shifts through history, geography and culture. In the United States the dominant group in society (Whites) has imposed the boundaries of group membership by falsely defining race in terms of biology. If you are a person of color, then you are biologically inferior to a white person.

Individuals do not perpetuate racism or the concepts of race independently. Structures, Institutions and social systems including our medical system, legal system, prison system, educational system, etc. perpetuate the logic of race and racism.

After our disscusion in class i thought it was also important to post the links below. 

http://atlantablackstar.com/2014/02/10/7-things-color-blind-racist-friend-might-say-respond/

http://amptoons.com/blog/files/mcintosh.html

http://www.blackgirldangerous.org/

http://www.swaraj.org/illich_hell.htm

biology week 5 assignments

The Complexity of Life

How do you now suppose new species emerge?

There are four current theories regarding geographic Speciation- allopatric, Peripatric, Parapatric, and Sympatic 

During allopatric speciation, a population splits into two geographically isolated populations due to geographical change. The isolated populations then undergo genotypic and/or phenotypic divergence because they are living under different conditions. Peripatric speciation is actually a type of allopatric speciation that results from isolation. This isolation may be the result of geographic isolation or a single ecological event that terminates most of the population. With such a small gene pool, rare genes are passed down more often, which causes changes in the pre-existing species. During Parapatric Speciation species are not isolated by a physical barrier and instead co-exist yet do not mate across the entire population. The causation factors that contribute to individuals within the population to selectively breed remains unknown Sympatic Speciation sympatic speciation is another type of reproductive isolation. Reproductive isolation may be due to individuals coming into their mating seasons at different times or preference of where to find a mate.

Speciation also occurs through human cultivation and manipulation of the environment.

A rad article

http://www.simonsfoundation.org/quanta/20140604-evolving-with-a-little-help-from-our-friends/

Do you vote for the chicken or the egg?

I think it makes the most sense that the “chicken” egg came first, but that it was a result of speciation from another similar species. I also just like imagining ostriches giving birth to chickens and being totally confused.

biology week 4 assignments

Post your thoughts on how we view animal intelligence?

The belief that humans (or as I like to call us, manimals) are the most significant species on the planet is amazingly human centric. Unfortunately, this as the dominant perception for the last several centuries in the western world has left our imagination and perception stunted by shallow anthropocentrism. This is not to say that when I watch the newest you tube video of cats taking care of human babies that I don't get all weepy eyed! It is exciting to learn how we are similar- biologically and socially to other species. I love learning that we have memories like elephants and enjoy physical humor like orangutans.

Below is a funny little graphic I came across (of course, we occupy the center of the graphic).

Post a comment to a classmate's blog

@ Jessie

I just want to know why we don’t "need”  wings. Even if all we go were a cute little pair of fruit fly wings- i bet my standing asanas would be so much easier if I had the assistance of wings to hold me up.

biology week 3 assignments

·      “99.4% of the most critical DNA sites are identical in human and chimp genes”
What do you make of this?

In 2003, researchers found that 99.5% of the “most critical DNA sites” are identical in human and chimp genes. This information has prompted many researchers to argue that chimps and humans should be brought together under the same umbrella genus.

The argument goes that in terms of life on Earth, humans and chimps are not that different and has prompted researchers to reconsider whether the ancestor of humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos evolved differently since our common ancestry split between 4 million and 7 million years ago. I am interested in the extension of this logic- to consider how genetic similarity confirms common ancestry for humans and different life forms. For example how much DNA do humans share with rats or mangos?   Also, what constitutes “critical DNA” and how does our human-centric perception shape what we consider is critical?

·      Check out the Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, & Viruses Tutorial
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/tutorials/pev/page2.html


The tutorial was incredibly accessible. After reading the material I took the quiz, and received 5 out of 6. I did not know that viruses were not considered “living.”

Granted I am without a super special microscope that verifies that

viruses are merely genetic information surrounded by a protein coat. I am not sure that that ability to reproduce ought to be a determinate in identifying “life.”

·      Post a comment on one of this morning's discussions

I don't think that I understand autopoiesis- something that is capable of reproducing and maintaining itself, particularly when applied to systems. It seems to have a self- reinforcing logic that ignores external reference. Using the example of a eukaryotic cell and its various biochemical components further confuses me because we know that the cell interacts with the environment. How does autopoiesis consider changes to the cell brought on by the environment?  

·      Post a response to a classmate's blog

@hillary:

Gene expression related to embryonic development blows my mind!!! Seriously, with the rise in so many diseases and disorders we really do not put enough research into the environmental factors that are influencing expression! It dramatically changes the way we approach prenatal health, esp. in communities of color!

Biology week 2 assignments

* Post your thoughts on Evo-Devo

Evolutionary developmental biology, or "evo devo,” is a field of biology that combines the evolutionary and developmental processes of different organisms to determine the ancestral relationship between them. What is interesting about the field is that it addresses both embryonic development and evolution, focusing on how change of and between species develops. What is unique about the knowledge that has been produced from this field is the concept that evolution alters developmental processes to create new structures from already existing gene networks.

For example “evo devo” research led to the discovery that the genes that are involved in making fruit flies and humans are fundamentally the same. Crazy to the western mind! What has come out of this knowledge is a better understanding that the same genes are used over and over again, just in different combinations and contexts to produce incredible diversity.

*How does Darwinism matter to you?

Evolution by natural selection was the central concept Charles Darwin's work. Natural selection is considered by some evolutionists to be the biggest factor to influence the diversity of species and their genomes. However, neo-Darwinists argue that natural selection does not offer a satisfactory explanation for the source of new genetic information from which natural selection could select. Epigenetics offer additional explanations of evolution, focusing on research that demonstrates that what happens during the course of a life span can affect how genes express themselves in future generations. There is growing evidence of genes being transferred not just vertically, from grandparents to parents to offspring, but also horizontally, between organisms. Evidence of horizontal transfer throws a wrench in Darwins theory and muddels are current definitions of species.

Biology Week 1 Assignments

* Post a short bio introducing yourself

Sara is characterized by her obsessive, sometimes inappropriate curiosity. She loves to learn- about most anything really- so long as it strengthens her relationships with others and the universe. With an appreciation for varying ways of thinking, perceiving, and general sense-making, Sara treats everyone as a teacher and every experience as a lesson. She has a unusual sense of humor, lacking in the ability to remember jokes, but constantly cracking them. Really, humor just helps her learn.  All and all, she looks forward to another semester with Proffesor Spears and her ACCHS classmates, only this time learning a thing or two about biology.

* Post your thoughts on one of the discussions in class to your blog.

Unfortunately, since I missed the first week of class I was unable to participate in the first discussion. However, I was very intereseted in the article on synethesia- the neurological  phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic and involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway.

After researching synethesia I learned that approximately one in 27 people has some form of synesthesia. Recent studies show that in the U.S. three times as many women as men have synesthesia. Also, synesthetes are more likely to be left-handed than the general population and appear to have inherited the trait.

Some synesthetes hear, smell, taste or feel pain in color. Others perceive letters and words in color. Some, who possess what researchers call "conceptual synesthesia," see abstract concepts, such as units of time or mathematical operations, as shapes projected either internally or in the space around them. And many synesthetes experience more than one form of the condition.

Perhaps the most rare form of synesthesia includes sensory crossovers that affect their relationship with food and drink. One of the most interesting examples of synesthesia causes  sounds, words and colors all have taste and texture. This sounds very interesting, but there is also a physiological component that causes the brain to send messages to the stomach to dissolve food that is not physically present.

Some of the most recent research on synesthesia says that there is actually an anatomical difference in the neural connections between different sensory parts of the brain. Reseach shows that the nueral connections are more mylienated in people with synesthesia.

week 11 assignments

Last class we discussed the article, 'Most family doctors' have given a patient a placebo drug’ written by Michelle Roberts. The article discusses the practice of family doctors giving placebos to their patients. The article stated that, “in a poll, 97% of 783 GPs admitted that they had recommended a sugar pill or a treatment with no established efficacy for the ailment their patient came in with.”

This article elicited various responses from the class. I felt like the conversation was hampered by our superficial understanding of the definition of placebo and our willingness to distill the various ethical issues associated with the practice of prescribing placebo down to a simple dichotomy of ‘good or bad.’

A placebo, by definition, is intended to deceive the recipient. In drug trial studies the participant consents to being given either the active form of the drug or an inactive sugar pill. Physicians also have the authority to prescribe prescription medication or sugar pills as placebos to their patients with, or without the consent. On occasion, participants in drug efficacy studies or patients given a placebo treatment will have a perceived, subjective or actual improvement in a medical condition, a phenomenon commonly called the placebo effect.

Like many of my classmates I believe that the power of thought greatly influences our capacity to heal. However, I believe that it is ethically problematic to mislead, manipulate or fool patients. Deceiving a patient disempowers them from having agency in their own health. The argument against this may be that they then may not heal, and while this may be true, health care providers still should not exercise this type of control/ power.

Additionally, (though I agree with neither) there is a significant difference between prescribing a sugar pill and prescribing an antibiotic. A sugar pill has little consequences compared to an antibiotic, which indiscriminately kills intestinal flora and weakens the immune system.

The story in class regarding the small child being given ice cream after being injured/ traumatized, illustrated good medicine and proper care- not a placebo or placebo effect.  This example illustrated exactly what good care should look like- the treatment met the physical and physiological needs of the patient and the patient consented to the care.

Biomedicine as practiced in the west, relies heavily on pharmaceuticals even when the function and total effect on the body is often unknown. The mechanism of action of most of the psychiatric drugs being prescribed in the u.s. is unclear and yet one in five adults is now taking at least one psychiatric drug such as antidepressants, antipsychotics and anti-anxiety medications.

Because it is normalized to prescribe and consume drugs that are not fully understood, the practice of prescribing placebos is logical and rational within the western paradigm of healthcare. However, this is not to say that this practice is ethical. In the clinical setting, the use of a placebo without the patient’s knowledge compromises the patient-physician relationship and may result in medical harm to the patient.

This is not to say that placebos should never be used, instead physicians may use placebos for diagnosis or treatment if the patient is informed of and consents to its use. It is always the healthcare providers responsibility to respect the autonomy of their patients.

week 9 assignments

Post your thoughts on the diet suggestions in pH Balance: Acids &Alkalis & Anti-Oxidants:

A couple of years ago I did a cleanse that was based on alkalizing the body. As a group we tested our ph a couple times a day and only consumed a juice of wheat grass, lemon and leafy greens. The others and I had very similar experiences as our bodies became more and more alkaline. We noticed changes in our moods, energy level and ability to digest food.  We noticed that when our bodies were just slightly alkaline we felt our best. I also kicked a parasitic stomach infection that I had had for several months!

Post your thoughts on this evening’s discussions:

In 2004, the average u.s. american person consumed 46 slices of pizza, 66.6 pounds of beef, 
87.7 pounds of chicken, 21.4 gallons of milk, 
31.2 pounds of cheese, 
23.2 pounds of ice cream, 
9.2 pounds of yogurt, 
11.7 pounds of chocolate, 
24.7 pounds of total confectioneries, 
134 pounds of flour in a year. According to a 2010 USDA study, Meats, eggs, and nuts make up 21% of our diets, dairy products make up 9%, flour and cereal products are 24%, added fats and oils are 23%, and caloric sweeteners are 14%. In other words, the foods we know are not good for us (refined carbs, added fats, and added sugars) are what make up about 61% of our diets!

The average u.s. american diet is incredibly acid forming! Because we are dependent upon a food system that was designed for the purposes of capitalist profit through the comodification of food, we eat processed foods heavy in cheap (acid forming) ingredients. Unfortunately, we do not consume enough fresh fruits and veggies to lower our ph balance.

Not suprizingly, on nearly all indicators of mortality, survival, and life expectancy, the United States ranks at or near the bottom among high-income countries.  

presentation

week 8 assaignments

Investigate the chemicals under your own kitchen sink, and prepare a short report on what you find...

I live in a house with 6 other people and we collectively decided that it was important to us to have a home that was as toxic free as possible. We purchase non-toxic cleaning products. We look for cleaners that don't contain chlorine, alchohols, triclosan, triclocarbon, lye, glycol ethers, or ammonia. We also try not to purchase products that contain petroleum, phosphates, solvents or VOC’s.

Thus our house uses vinegar, bleach, baking soda and a few products that are non-toxic. We also use a windex knock off called Sparkel and there is no way that its purple color is not toxic!

While advertizes say that these products work as well as there toxic counterparts, I cant quite ever get the shower scum scrubbed off. However, it is worth it to me to lessen the amount of toxins that we have in our home, not support companies that expose workers to toxins and lessen our impact on the environment.

Bad Guy Cleaning Products and some Alternatives:

From http://www.webmd.com/health-ehome-9/green-cleaning

Chlorine Bleach

Chlorine bleach is one of the oldest cleaners. It's also one of the harshest. Chlorine bleach kills germs on contact, and isn't much friendlier to your skin, if accidentally splashed. Manufacturers include chlorine bleach in a wide variety of cleaning products as well as some laundry and dishwasher detergents.

Bleach is also renowned for its mold-killing ability, but it's not the only way to kill mold and mildew. Hydrogen peroxide or vinegar also works to kill mold.

Because it's used so frequently, chlorine bleach is the most common cleaner that kids accidentally swallow. And chlorine poses another special danger: when mixed with ammonia -- another common ingredient of cleaning products -- and acidic cleaners, such as toilet bowl cleaners, the mixture releases poisonous gasses. Since it's hard to know what's in every product, it's best to simply not mix cleaning products at all. While it's safe to pour old cleaning products down the drain, don't pour more than one at a time.

Non-toxic Solutions

Use a hydrogen-peroxide-based bleach in your laundry instead of chlorine bleach. Hydrogen peroxide kills mold and mildew, sanitizes counters and cutting boards, and removes stains from counters.

For household cleaning, opt for chlorine-free products to eliminate the risks. Specifically look for "chlorine-free" on the label. Use one product at a time, and rinse surfaces thoroughly.

A simple tip: Keep an old toothbrush to scrub counter and those hard-to-clean tile corners.

Ammonia: Avoiding Hazardous Fumes

Want a clue to ammonia's hazardous properties? Consider its well-known harsh smell. Undiluted ammonia is highly irritating to the eyes and respiratory system. Because it does everything from cutting through grease to cleaning windows, ammonia is found in a wide range of conventional cleaning products. There are other ways to clean that are just as effective.

Review the issues raised in the article ‘Mediterranean diet 'better than low-fat diet' for cardiovascular risk’

The ‘Mediterranean diet ' is arguably better that the typical American low fat diet because though the low fat diet may lower cholesterol, it does not produce better outcomes with regard to cardiovascular death or heart attacks. Instead, the Mediterranean diet discourages saturated fat, but encourages monosaturated fats, lowering cholesterol and producing better health outcomes. 

It is really a shame that many Americans have bought into the low fat diet fad. I am shocked by how afraid people are of fat. Often, for fear of getting fat, many people will opt for the low fat option not realizing that generally that means that the food has been denatured and pumped full of sugar.  A couple of years ago I started incorporating way more oils into my diet and steering clear of anything labeled low fat- because of this my skin, joints and brain function is notably better! 

Week 7 Assignments

Germanium

Symbol: Ge

Electron configuration: Ar 3d10 4s2 4p2

Atomic number: 32

Melting point: 1,721°F (938.2°C)

Discovered: 1886

Discoverer: Clemens Winkler

Atomic mass: 72.64 ± 0.01 u

Germanium is a lustrous, hard, gray-white semi-metallic element with a crystalline and brittle structure. It is a semiconductor. Germanium and the oxide are transparent to infrared radiation. Germanium also has the unusual property that (like water) it expands as it freezes.

Germanium parts were vastly used during the first decade of semiconductor electronics, before being widely replaced by silicon parts. Silicon offers superior performance and quality control, but subjective tastes still make germanium highly desirable for certain sounds.

Alchemy – science, magic, art – or all three?

Chinese Medicine, as practiced and taught by many is an amalgam of alchemy, science, magic and art.  Historically Chinese medicine was deeply linked to Taoism, Tai Qi and scientific methods.

Wikipedia says,  

“In fact, in the early Song Dynasty, followers of this Taoist idea (chiefly the elite and upper class) would ingest mercuric sulfide, which, though tolerable in low levels, led many to suicide. Thinking that this consequential death would lead to freedom and access to the Taoist heavens, the ensuing deaths encouraged people to eschew this method of alchemy in favor of external sources.”

To practice Chinese Medicine effectively requires the capacity to view a patient through various theoretical frameworks. I think that to limit your ability to diagnose and treat within the paradigm of ‘science’ would severely limit the patients healing. In our culture we idealize science and devalue alternative approaches to explaining the natural world. Generally, we do not value alternative explanations of our experience in the world unless it can be validated by science- despite the limits which the tacit assumptions produce.

“Doing nothing, but not feeling guilty about it"

I generally include a bit of doing nothing- by myself, or with others- during my week. This week it included several long walks for the sake of nothing. While I could have been studying or working or doing my taxes or cleaning my house, I instead opted to do nothing, not produce, or materially change anything. Doing nothing felt awesome and I am a better human being for not ascribing to the predominate culture of finding my self-worth through being busy. 

week 6 assignments

Be

Beryllium

Atomic Number: 4

Atomic Weight: 9.012182

Melting Point: 1560 K (1287°C or 2349°F)

Boiling Point: 2744 K (2471°C or 4480°F)

Density: 1.85 grams per cubic centimeter

Phase at Room Temperature: Solid

Element Classification: Metal

Period Number: 2    

Group Number: 2    

Group Name: Alkaline Earth Metal

History:

The mineral beryl has been used at least since the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt. In the first century CE, Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder (not the beer) mentioned in his encyclopedia Natural History that beryl and emerald were similar.

Beryllium was once known as ‘glucinum’, meaning sweet, since beryllium and many of its compounds have a sugary taste. Unfortunately, beryllium and its compounds are poisonous and should never be tasted or ingested.

Uses:

Beryllium (Be) is one of the lightest of all metals and has one of the highest melting points of any light metal.  Beryllium metal is used in aerospace and defense applications because it is light weight and has great dimensional stability over a wide temperature range.  Beryllium-copper alloys are used in a wide variety of applications because of their electrical and thermal conductivity, high strength and hardness, good corrosion and fatigue resistance, and nonmagnetic properties.  Additionally, beryllium is used to make windows for X-ray tubes because it is realativly transparent. When exposed to alpha particles beryllium emits neutrons and is used as a neutron source. Don't be fooled though, its not all that fancy- other beryllium alloys are used for many of the parts on your car.

Avogadro's Hypothesis

1. Which of the following is not a characteristic of an hypothesis?

a. like a theory, it may be revised

2. Consider the following combining gas volumes:  Chlorine 50 mL   Oxygen 25 mL. What formula is suggested by the combining ratio of these gases?

a. Cl2O

3. Which of the following statements is true?

a. Equal volumes of gases contain equal numbers of particles

Avogadro's law states that, "equal volumes of all gases, at the same temperature and pressure, have the same number of molecules".

Molecular Medicine

     After reading last week's articles I was really repelled by the concept of “Molecular Medicine.” It seems that the technology used thus far is primarily focused on dealing with symptoms and not actual healing. I understand that one of the promises of Molecular Medicine is patient compliance, but this is a type of passive compliance and does not engage the patient as the primary actor in their own health. This way of thinking about health and medicine affirms that individuals do not have the capacity to take care of their own bodies and reinforces a culture of domination through the expertise of doctors and scientists. 

An additional Link that I explored after visiting some of the recommended sites….

This link has great historical information regarding Alchemy and Female Alchemists!

http://www.womenalchemists.com/

week 5 assaignments

Argon

Ar

Atomic Number: 18

Atomic Weight: 39.948

Melting Point: 83.80 K (-189.35°C or -308.83°F)

Boiling Point: 87.30 K (-185.85°C or -302.53°F)

Density: 0.0017837 grams per cubic centimeter

Phase at Room Temperature: Gas

Element Classification: Non-metal

Period Number: 3    

Group Number: 18    

Group Name: Noble Gas

Name: From the Greek word for inactive, argos.

History: Argon was the first discovered of the noble gases! Argon was suspected to be present in air by Henry Cavendish in 1785 but was not isolated until 1894 by Lord Rayleigh and Sir William Ramsay.

Argon is frequently used when an inert atmosphere is needed. It is used to fill incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs to prevent oxygen from corroding the hot filament. Argon is also used to form inert atmospheres for arc welding, growing semiconductor crystals and processes that require shielding from other atmospheric gases.

colors in my kitchen

(and garden)

Class Discussion

I think that spectrum eating is a fabulous (and fun) approach to eating! For the most part you can ensure that you are eating a variety of nutrients, antioxidants, amino acids, etc.. My consciousness around food has been greatly influenced by various authors, activists, farmers, and my own participation in food justice/ sovereignty work.

Below are a few links to resources that are Awesome!

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/4/16/stuffed_and_starved_as_food_riots

http://www.phatbeetsproduce.org/the-beet-blog/home/

http://www.takebackthetract.com/

http://www.cityslickerfarms.org/

http://www.peoplesgrocery.org/welcome?splash=1