Week Eleven

Connections I am Making Between TCM & Cell Biology

This is a difficult question for me.  I do not make a connection between conventional western cell biology that I have studied and TCM.  I really like biology.  I like learning about the way the cell functions and learning what the individual parts of the cell are and what their job is.  I'm just not sure how to work that in with TCM.  TCM seems to be much broader and not so specific.

When I started learning TCM I had to switch my thinking around.  I was surprised to learn that in TCM the cure for a cough is not the same for each individual.  I can have a deficient cough, or it can be due to wind heat, or wind cold.  In western medicine I think we treat a cough with cough medicine and/or antibiotics...maybe brochodilators.  In TCM the herb combinations for a cough are many.  Each practitioner can have a unique approach to treating the cough.  I am not sure how the herbs I have studied work on the cellular level.  I am not sure how to combine the broad knowledge that I have about TCM with the specific knowledge I have about cell biology.  Based on what I've learned so far, it seem like the best medicine is a combination of the specific knowledge supplied by western medicine and the theories of TCM.  I'm looking forward to reading what my classmates think.  Also, I haven't had many western medicine classes at AIMC yet so I am looking forward to seeing how they integrate.  I am looking forward to western med. classes taught by instructors with TCM knowledge.

How Cells Divide:  Mitosis Vs. Meiosis

I really liked this site.  It was easy to read and I like that the two processes were side by side so that I could easily differentiate between them.  I also like that I can move to the next phase at my pace.  I thought this made the two processes very separate and clear.  It was detailed enough to be clear.  There was not so much information presented that it became overwhelming.

Other Links

I was unable to connect to the first Krebs link.

2nd link:  I still do not really have a good grasp of the Krebs Cycle.  Energy is released because of it....I liked the article we read in class..."Major Metabolic Pathways Converging on the TCA Cycle."

I loved mrskingsbioweb.  I am so sympathetic to the life of bacteria now.  It was actually very well written, funny and informative.

The Wikipedia links had a lot of information.  I got more oout of the animation reviewed above.

Week Ten

The Diversity of Species in My Environment

I live downtown in Sacramento. I think I have a typical amount of species for an urban environment. We have cats, dogs, and chickens in my neighborhood. The chickens seem to come and go fairly rapidly because if the city doesn't get them the other animals do. Once we found a snake crossing the road, but it was injured and we couldn't save it. We have rats, mice, and squirrels. Last year I planted a lot of lavender from the farmer's market and the bees and butterflies like it, so now we have them. We feed the birds and have a million tiny finches that come to eat. I built them pretend wires to sit on by the feeder and have recently added a fountain, so they spend quite a bit of time here. There are six doves as well.

The nicest thing about Sacramento is that we have a lot of trees. I think we're called the city of trees. This is a good thing because it is hotter than you know where here in the summer. The trees are as tall as 30 feet and are very helpful at shading our houses and the streets. I have been landscaping and because of our class have been using old seeds. I planted old roses last weekend...they are supposed to be extremely fragrant and are extremely disease resisitant. I also got organic seeds from Elephant Pharmacy and planted them. I suppose when I really think about it most people in Sacramento are not very imaginative. Lots of camelias, impatiens in the summer. I am trying add some diversity

In the grand scheme of things, we don't have a lot of diversity, but at least we have some life and I am grateful for that!

Microscopy Link

This was interesting. I was kind of hoping for real pictures instead of renderings, but there was a lot of interesting information. I especially liked the virtual tour of the cell, but I could not get the components to cut so I could see inside.

Spike's Gallery

I really like this link! The pictures are beautiful! This is what I was hoping for in the microscopy link. When my kids were little we used to look at pictures like this and you were meant to guess what was in the picture.

Week Nine

The Ethics of Gene Therapy

Should my children contract fever, headache, joint pain & itching followed by debilitating infection of the brain & central nervous system I would go to any length to attempt to cure them.  I feel the same about any human being suffering from severe skin disfiguration as well as long-term disease, fever & weight loss.  I am concerned about the well-being of anyone that I share this planet with and I have a great deal of compassion for those that suffer.  I intend to graduate from AIMC, get my license and go out to do the best I can to be of service to others.  

What am I missing here?  I am uncertain as to the question of ethics.  Is it because there are drugs languishing in the chemical libraries of pharmaceutical companies waiting for core genomes to be discovered?  Is it because drugs are considered to be "bad"?  Is it because were there to be a cure someone would profit from it?  Personally if someone close to me was sick I would be more than happy to pay whatever I had to see them well.  I have no problem exchanging money for goods and services.  I am happy that scientists have been able to identify the core genome of the three parasites.  I am glad that someone paid them to do it.  I don't work for free and neither do you.  You won't treat for free and neither will I.

I looked at Wikipedia for more information on African Sleeping Sickness.  It appears to me that the new class of drugs has been tested on mice, but not humans.  I think that bringing a new drug to market takes quite a bit of testing, time & money. 

The Chemistry of Life 

I had really never given much thought to what biochemistry is until we read the article in class last Wednesday.  I like the idea that biochemistry is the chemistry of life, but I think a more descriptive definition is "Biochemistry is the branch of science that explores the structure and function of all living organisms at the molecular level."  It offers a little more explanation of how the chemistry part relates to the biology part.

Animations

I was not that thrilled with the animations.  Maybe I would have like them better if they had text.  Mine did not have any sound, so I guess I was supposed to already know what they were depicting.  I did like the animation of graphite and diamond because I read about them when we were discussing the molecular structure of carbon.

Week Eight

Semiconductor of the Week:  Tellurium

Tellurium is very interesting.  It's abbreviation is Te, its atomic number is 52. It looks like tin and is used mostly in alloys and as a semiconductor. Te is one of the nine rarest elements on earth because when the earth was being formed it was severely depleted as a result of its role in the oxidation and reduction of hydrogen.  I think oxygen and water were absent so tellurium combined with hydrogen instead of oxygen.  As a result of the combination, tellurium evaporated.  The main source of tellurium today is from the byproducts of the refining other metals like copper and lead.  500 tons of treated copper ore yields one pound of tellurium.

Tellurium is used as a p-type semiconductor.  It is used by the semiconductor and electrical industries.  It's used in the media layer of CDs and DVDs. It also looks like tellurium shows great potential when used as cadmium telluride to make extremely efficient solar panels.

Commercial grade Te is usually sold as a powder but is also available in solid form.  In 2000 it sold for $14 per pound, but with increased demand it rose to $100 per pound in 2006.  That seems pretty cheap for one of the 9 rarest elements on earth.

Welcome to Chem Balancer!

This was a fun link.  I understood this in class and I understood it on this site.  And I won!  What's not to love?  I also like the tutorial, but I didn't really have to think.  I like the interactive sites.  They let me test myself and see if I really understand or not.

PH Balance

This is an interesting topic.  I looked at the links and they were interesting.  The next time I go to the drugstore I am going to buy some ph strips and see where I come out.  I have no idea.  I do drink a cup of decaf in the morning and have a diet coke in the afternoon. (as everyone knows)  I am willing to investigate this and see where I stand.  If I am acidic though, I will not be eliminating either beverage....look for me to be drinking lemon in water first thing in the morning.  It's just a matter of balancing the equation and I'm all checked out on that....

Week Seven

Inert Gas of the Week - Neon

Neon, atomic number 10, was discovered in 1898 by two Scottish chemists who cooled air until is became liquid then heated it up and captured the gases that resulted as the liquid boiled.  Kryptonite, Xenon, and Neon were all discovered at the same time.  Neon is regularly a colorless noble gas but when it is used in vacuum discharge tubes and neon lamps it has a reddish glow.  Although Ne is the fifth most common element in the universe it is rare on Earth because it is light and inert.  It is found in trace amounts in our atmosphere.  Commercially it is extracted and used in tubes as lighting.  Neon is reddish, so tubed lighting of other colors contains a different gas.  It is used as a refrigerant, in vacuum tubes, lightning arrestors and helium-neon lasers.

Avogadro's Hypothesis

I am inclined to dislike chemistry, math & physics.  I have never understood much about any of these subjects and am fearful that I am just not wired in a manner conducive to grasping the concepts involved.  OK, that being said...I understand Avogadro's hypothesis!  I sort of got it on Wednesday in class, but after reading the link I understand how it came to be and why, even what it is.  I really liked the little questions in the middle of the reading because it helped me to focus.  Ok, I missed one even with the information right in front of me, but I went back and figured out where I went wrong.  I really like the idea that I am sort of making peace with chemistry.  I still swear math will never be my friend....

What Exactly is a MOLE?

I have a pretty good understanding of what a mole is. I think.  I understood what we discussed in class.  I found this link a little heavy for my taste, but I did understand that you use the concept of the MOLE to figure out ceramic glazes.  I definitely do not understand this sentence: "If you have a gram molecular weight of one compound and a gram molecular weight of another compound, there are equal numbers of molecules in the two weights". I thought what I understood was that MOLES of different molecules took up the same volume but weighed differently because their atomic numbers were different.  I guess I am confused by the relationship of number of molecules, weight & volume. Better do the extra credit!

Update on the  The Chikyu

The Chikyu cost a half billion dollars to build.  It was delivered July 29, 2005.  The whole project is expected to be completed by 2012.  On February 5, 2008 it finished drilling 13 holes from a fault zone and extracted core samples.  The Chikyu departed the port of Shingu on February 12th and will deliver 5,000 core samples to the Kochi New Port.  The operation will be then be suspended until the fall. Check the site http://jamstec.go.jp/chiky/eng/CHIKYU/index.html and see a picture of it.  It looks like a pretty regular boat with a tall tower.  

Week Six

Halogen of the Week:  Astatine

Halogen's atomic number is 85, its abbreviation is At.  Because its most stable ion has a half life of just over 8 hours it is the rarest element on earth.  As a halogen, it is one electron short of a full outer shell. Astatine means "unstable" in Greek.  Scientists estimate there is about a teaspoon of it on earth. At results from the decay of Uranium-235 & Uranium-238 but disappears because of its short half life.  It is highly radioactive.  Because At is so scarce not much research has been done with it and there are no practical/commercial applications for it.  It was discovered in Berkeley in 1940 by two scientists who bombarded Bismuth with alpha particles.  It is probably a very dark color that when heated vaporizes in a purplish haze.  Astatine is the heaviest of the Halogens.

Alchemy: Science, Magic, Art or All Three?

In the last two centuries scientists have created things that would have previously been considered miraculous.  The car for example.  I can imagine that people in ancient times might have dreamed of being able to get around quickly without much effort - to be able to go almost anywhere in any direction.  Today with the development of internal combustion engines this is possible.  And still to me this seems magical.  I know that there is a scientific process that makes it simple and easy for me to get around but I am lacking in the ability to really understand how it is possible.  If I were less educated I could definitely see how it would seem purely magical.  I  believe that the art of creation is inspired.  I am unwilling to have this discussion on my blog, but suffice it to say that I don't think that I'm the biggest power in the universe and I believe that at times I am inspired by some sort of outside force.  I think that science, magic & art are definitely linked.  

I think that as Westerners we are indoctrinated with the idea that science operates independently of magic and art, that it is completely rational.  Personally I think that this is an oversimplification... alchemy is probably equal parts science, magic and art.  I am willing to accept the "I don't know".

Electrochemistry Investigation

I made the cannon!  It was very funny!  We had a lot of trouble getting the sparks to fire on the film cannister side of the equation.  I actually shocked myself several times!  It was so funny I couldn't talk for laughing.  I used hairspray for the fuel.  The film cannister is white, so you can actually see the "flame".  It is quite bright.  The film cap shoots quite a distance and is bothersome to the cat, Mr. Lucy, who cannot understand why we have to do this when he is trying to nap on the bed.  The lighter I got was different than the website so we had to figure out to use one of the wires for the ground.  It took longer than 15 minutes, but the $3.00 is pretty accurate.  This is so amazingly cool...I can't wait for the sun to go down to see it in the dark.  I am going to give this to my nieces and nephew.  They will love it.  I will bring it to school on Wednesday in case any of you want to play with it.  I mean experiment....

Week Five

Alkalai Earth Metal - Francium

Francium, atomic number 87, abbreviated as FR is the second rarest naturally occurring element.  As far back as 1870 scientists believed that element 87 exisited, but it wasn't until 1939 that the element was actually found.  Many scientists prior to 1939 observed spectral lines they believed to be evidence of Francium, but all were disproved until Marguerite Perey purified a sample of Actinium 227 and found an unusual decay product.  This is an extremely scarce element - scientists believe there is only about 30 gr. in the earth's crust total.  The largest amount ever assembled in one place is 10,000 atoms.  Although scientists can now synthesize Francium by nuclear reaction they have never made a sample large enough to weigh.  Fr has the lowest electronegativity of all known elements.  It is highly radioactive metal that decays into astatine, radium, and radon.  Fr is less stable than any other element lighter than nobelium.  Francium-223, its most stable isotope has a half life of less than 22 minutes.  Fragile!! Francium is so unstable and rare that there are no commercial applications for it.  It has been used for research purposes in biology and atomic structure.  Scientists explored the possibility of using Fr as a diagnostic aid for cancer but it just wasn't practical.

What Colors Are in My Kitchen?

I work pretty hard to make sure there are many colors in my kitchen.  I do in one week what most people do in three.  So, I sit down Friday or Saturday and plan the next week's meals.  I make a list of what I want to cook based on what everyone wants to eat, shop on Saturday, then cook it up on Sunday so it can be easily heated and ready to go by the time I get in the door around 8 PM.  I lived on a working farm when my kids were little so I am aware of what's fresh at what time of year.  I do use seasonal fruits and vegetables.  Also, I like to mark the seasons with appropriate food - heavier in the fall & winter & lighter, fresher meals in the summer and spring.  Although I'm concerned about eating well from a health/weight point of view, I really just like to eat.  I love that we sit down every night and talk about our day and what we've done and are planning for the next day.  It's the best way for me to check in with everyone since my kids are older and I'm gone so much.  My big goal in life has always been that when my kids grow up and come home they request meals that they really like.  Also, I like to cook but I don't make the same things over and over.  I like to try new things...much to the consternation of the last remaining child who has the ability to identify a pinch of nutmeg in a gigantic stew.  So, we get variety.  Here's what's cooking while I'm writing this:  ham/chicken cassoulet, chicken soup with organic peas & cremini mushrooms.  I am going to make Canneloni for dinner tonight with sauce I made a couple of weeks ago and froze.  I am going to bake and freeze gluten free chocolate cupcakes that I will later dust powdered sugar hearts on for my classmates Thurs. (Valentine's day).  I am going to make white sugar cookies in the shape of hearts frosted with lots of sugary pink frosting and little silver balls for my family. We'll use the leftovers for lunches we pack every evening.  

I've found that eating well takes some doing.  If I don't know what I'm going to eat I'm more likely to spend money and eat poorly.  If I plan it all out, we eat well.  Most of all, eating is one of the very best things in life.  It's a chance to sit down and enjoy people.  For me cooking has always been a way to show the people in my life that I love them.

All that good stuff being said, here's one of the prettiest colors in my kitchen at present:  Jet-Puffed Strawberry Mallows.  Yes, soft squishy light pink marshmallows.  I would like to make a pillow from them! I bought the litte guys last week at the grocery store.  I really like the idea of them and they appeared in lunches last week.  OK, I didn't eat them and I know my son didn't either, but they were very cute and kind of fun for Valentine's.  They are not good for you, but I really can't imagine anyone being able to ingest too many.  As I look on the bag I notice that it comes with a CHOKING WARNING.  Nice!  I should have made Rice Krispie Treats with them....

Link Review

I enjoyed the link with the minerals.  I have spent a lot of time looking at minerals in NYC and Washington DC and always have a great time doing so.  It was enjoyable to read what gives them their beautiful colors.  I couldn't get the elements in a flame to download. I like the last site too, where the minerals are shown under different types of lighting.