Biology Last Assignment

I chose my research topic because I have been affected by stress for a long time! Im sure that many people have a history of living in a stressful environment, or attending schools that are stressful or having stressful working conditions, and I am no different. I chose Stress as a topic because I wanted to know the biology of the stress reaction. Now that I know, not much has changed, its not like I can directly communicate with my sympathetic nervous system. But I do have more compassion for myself when I get stressed and recognize that to a certain extent the stress reaction is out of my control.

I am putting my notes from the presentation below, they are rough, just notes, but should be informative anyway.

What is Stress?

Stress - any uncomfortable emotional/mental/physical experience accompanied by predicable biochemical, physiological and behavioral changes.

Stress has a purpose - fight or flight - Prehistoric times and even now to a certain extent, helpful

Cortisol has a purpose - 

Resting cortisol levels - essential for normal functioning (waking up in the morning cortisol rises so you can perform your daily activities.

Reactive cortisol levels - increase in cortisol in response to stressor

Acute Stress - fight or flight 0 enhances immune system, memory, energy replenishment and cardiovascular function

vs.

Chronic Stress - generalized feeling that daily pressures constitute a threat 

Suppresses immune system (leading to inflammation and potentially its associated diseases) and memory, promotes bone and mineral loss, muscle wasting, metabolic syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome - cluster of conditions occurring together that increase risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Symptoms - increased blood pressure, high blood sugar level, excess body fat around waist, abnormal cholesterol levels

Symptoms of chronic stress - Anxiety, insomnia, fear, anger, sadness, chronic pain and illness, panic, GI distress, Fatigue, High blood pressure, headaches, weakened immune system to name just a a few common ones.

What is the physiological condition of stress in the Body?

Stress response system - hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis)

Autonomic Nervous System, subconscious. Stressors send the Sympathetic Nervous system into action. (increases heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar, suppresses digestive, reproductive and immune systems)

 This is the Endocrine system in action

Hypothalamus (regulates sleep, stress, sex, body temperature and hunger)

Stress is perceived, the 

Hypothalamus sends Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CHS) 

to Pituitary gland (Master gland) which releases 

adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) 

thru our blood to the 

Adrenal glands (Above kidneys). 

ACTH causes the Adrenal glands to release the two stress hormones, 

adrenaline and noradrenaline (first stage) 

and cortisol (Secondary Resistance Phase).

Adrenaline (epinephrine)- increases heart rate and blood pressure

Cortisol (glucocorticoids)- increases blood pressure, increases blood sugar and mobilizes fat and protein stores to help replenish lost energy. 

Stress response is supposed to shut off, but in todays world of persistent worry and activity, this doesn’t always happen. When release of coritsol and adrenaline is constant, the regulation of the endocrine system is thrown out of wack. 

Autonomic Nervous system - subconscious? not completely

The result is abnormal inflammation due to a suppressed immune system, weight gain and anxiety which is linked to many many diseases. Cancer, autoimmune, alzheimer’s disease, parkinson’s, cardiovascular, depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and obesity etc.

Image of the HPA Axis

http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/content/stress/art2861.html?getPage=2

What can we do about Stress?

We need the right balance of these neurotransmitters to be healthy and react well to stress. Its not about avoiding stress, but being able to main thru it.

Might be helpful to become aware of a couple terms that you may see in your practice.

Allostasis - maintaining stability (homeostasis) thru change. Process of adaptation to acute stress

Allostatic Load - The wear and tear on the body which increases over time when an individual is exposed to repeated or chronic stress, allostatic load represents the physiological consequences of chronic exposure to fluctuating or heightened neural or neuroendocrine response that results from chronic stress.

Lifestyle! Attitude. Meditation. Mindfulness. Self-care. Love. Altruism.

Hierarchy

Studies of Baboons in Africa and study of English civil service, the lower the rank, the higher the stress and vice versa. Power and stress inversely related.

Lack of control - lack of agency contribute to stress. Decreasing these situations in your life.

Telemeres - protect the ends of chromosomes from fraying. stress accelerates the shortening of telemeres, which happens normally as we age

Compassion, caring for others, humor, connection may promote telemerase, which heals the effects of chronic stress on telemeters

Connecting with, helping others may help us heal ourselves and live longer, healthier lives

Creating conditions where people can flourish. Positive social affiliation is powerful and physiologically beneficial 

Finding an environment in which we feel in control, vital to a less stressful life. Finding where you are happy, a job where you are happy, a place to live where you are happy and connected.

Agency

Empowerment

Culture and social systems - creating a new world a new healthier culture - perhaps based on TCM

Don’t displace unhappiness

Giving rather than receiving

Mindfulness - 

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction - decrease blood pressure, decrease stress, reduce anxiety and depression, etc.

Exercise

Sleep

balanced diet 

avoid tobacco, excess caffeine and alcohol

All these things are Preventative. Like TCM

Biochemistry Last Week!

I am not surprised that the FDA did not release important information to the public. Unfortunately :( I wish that I had more faith in the ability of governmental agencies to support and protect the citizens that pay their salaries... but I suppose what is happening here is that those salaries are perhaps being supplemented by corporations who will benefit if certain government organizations do not release certain information regarding certain products that may cause cancer when you put them in your mouth or on your body.
I have looked a little more deeply into a few subjects while in Larry's classes and what I am finding is that the human species as a whole is having to deal with new and accumulating pollutants more and more everyday. And the government is turning a blind eye, meaning, they are looking right at what is happening and not doing anything. I think a shift in perspective is necessary, from egocentrism to a global concern for continued life. What a time to be alive! I wonder if people always feel like that, like, this is such a crazy place! and things are going to shit! Does it always feel like the world is on the verge of disaster? Ive talked to some older friends (forty years older friends) who told me that it always feels like that... but then again forty years is not that long in the grand scheme of things. I don't know! Ha.

Biophysics Week 13

Would I support the development of a bionic person... well, initially I thought, yes, I would, especially for disabled people, bionic parts to help them function in society. The problem that I see with technology like this is that it has so many potential uses. It could so easily be used in armed forces. I won't even get into the potential implications of that kind of technology being used against 'regular' people.
This kind of question makes me think about how everything in a double edged sword. The greater the potential benefit, the greater the potential harm?

The 'locked in article' makes me think about western science and technology artificially extending life, and the question of quantity vs. quality... such a difficult and personal question. What constitutes life? I don't think any one can answer this question for anyone else. So the issues brought up in the article about whether the headset is actually communicating what the locked in patient wants to communicate is very problematic. How to ever prove that? The headset would need to be more sophisticated to demonstrate personal messages, not just a yes no and maybe.

Biochemistry week 13

The human species is living as if it had more than one planet to occupy... yeah, why is that!? I think that it is because we are no longer grounded in the production of food and material goods that it takes to survive. Specialization, the division of labor, has allowed us to develop into a society that doesn't know what it takes to produce shelter, clothing, food, light sources, etc. Technology, tv, facebook, iphone, etc keep us distracted and removed mentally from the present moment and we are no longer engaged with the material existence of the the human species and/or planet Earth. This last weekend I had to stop and think about when was the last time i walked barefoot on grass. I can't remember.
Capitalism. Money. Consumption. There I said it. How do we move into a space in which we understand the (social, economic, ecological) implications of our choices? What kind of education is required to instill in children the value of invisible others? If a child dies in a diamond mine... If a tree falls in the woods... are your ring laden hands covered in blood?
Like we talked about in class, how do you navigate a society in which there is no way to make a totally clean/benign choice? Are we always compromised, no matter what we do, are we complicit in the guilt of the oil companies just by virtue of living in the US? I don't know the answer to this question, thats why Im so interested in it. I watch individuals like the Dalai Lama and wonder if peace is the way. Who knew biochemistry was so philosophically heavy.

Biology Week 12

I think that parents should be aware of what they are having their children injected with... certainly yes they should have an active role in immunizing their tiny nugget that is made from their flesh.

I don't know whether immunization should be compulsory, I am personally on the fence about immunization. I don't get flu shots anymore. I read 'somewhere' (of course I can't actually back this up so would love to be corrected or informed) that immunization injections include heavy metals and other substances that may not be good for human health long term. I have also heard of serious negative consequences (long term) associated with the HPV vaccine that is being pushed on almost all young women today (before they are even sexually active ideally, according to western medicine).
From my understanding the people who are creating these immunizations are interested in getting paid for them, and are not necessarily releasing all the information that would create informed, truly consenting consumers. Surprise!
I was immunized as a child and seem to be ok, except for the constant insanity... but now with all of the information that I have seen on the medical industry I have a hard time imagining just going along with a western doctor's advice to immunize... I guess I am in support of people being able to make their own decision of whether to immunize their children or not.

Biophysics Week 12

The issue of acupuncture as energy medicine brings up the question, for me, of what matter is. It seems to me in the Western world that we take for granted the surface, that we are what we can see. And while I do believe that our bodies are part of what makes up our 'selves', I think there is more to it. Energy is flowing through us, whether we feel it or not. And I think belief, or open-ness, has a lot to do with whether a person is in touch with their own subtle energies or not.

What I draw from Kirlian photography is that this is another area of work in which the subtle energies are being shown to exist. That what we can see is not all of what is there.

I have had many experiences with intent. The healers who have had the most profound effects on me are those who believe in the power of intention. Intention is really hard to talk about in others because in a certain sense we cannot know the intentions of others. But in another sense we can, or at least in certain circumstances, I can intuit the intentions of others. My gut will tell me whether someone is on the level or not. My nerves will tell me whether I am putting my physical or emotional self at risk, regardless of what someone says, these feelings come through and speak to me. Unfortunately sometimes I don't listen, but this happens I can realize that my own intention was off somehow, that I didn't intend for the benefit of everyone involved, that I had other intentions that were misaligned with my safety/comfort. Anyway, now I am rambling about intention in general, not intention and healing.
I do believe that the intention of the healer and the intention of the patient have an effect on the outcome of treatment. But I don't know what else to say about this as it is subjective.

Biochemistry Assignment Week 12

I have a really hard time believing that nuclear power is an ok source for human energy needs... I feel like we are setting ourselves up for disaster by creating all of these nuclear power plants all over the world. It makes me sad and nervous for myself and all of the children just coming into the world now who will probably have to deal with these and other issues of pollution and contamination.

I checked out the link for viruses. I am amazed by viruses. They are not technically alive... but they propel themselves through time and space. They contain DNA or RNA, not both, and have a protective capsule, but require a host for energy (ATP) and ribosomes which they hijack to produce their own proteins. It makes you wonder about our definition of living... What kind of consciousness can a virus have? Any? Are viruses creatures? The images of viruses on the link made them look like robots... so bizarre I cannot fathom the implications of the existence of viruses. They can be great metaphorically... I think we all know some creatures that do not seem creative, seem to feed off of others and not contribute, make you wonder if there's anyone in there with a conscience.

Biophysics Week Eleven

How do I know I'm a living system? I am actively engaged in the process of becoming myself, all the time. I have to eat, drink water and sleep to maintain my body, I have thoughts about who/what I am in the context of the world I live in. I am constantly maintaining a balance in order to be me. Like the definition of 'autopoiesis' from our packet explains, I am both producer and product, ceaselessly.

Biophysics and Oriental Medicine can have a lot in common. Acupuncture is the revitalization of living energies, currents, through the body. Biophysics studies these living energies. I appreciated the article that we read on acupuncture and neuromuscular stimulation working together to produce even greater healing results than acupuncture alone in patients with hemiplasia (paralysis on half of the body). This is an example of the healing potential of energy. It is funny that they did not do a study with only the neuromuscular stimulation, which would have better elucidated the effectiveness of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and scalp needling.

Biology Week Eleven

I think that the reintroduction of the American Bison is important, as we saw in an earlier week (deep ecology I believe) that there are so many benefits to a thriving ecosystem, and grasslands making up much of land environment being vitally important. At the same time, I wish that there were some other issues that need addressing getting as much attention as it appears American Bison are receiving. Like the real harms of consumer capitalism. Or the frightening lack of education/awareness of global concerns (or miseducation/brainwashing) in the majority of middle america.
I think that Bison are important to Native groups that deserve to have as many aspects of their culture restored as possible. And I believe that Bison are more sustainable than cattle, and could potentially create a more sustainable meat for general consumption? Not entirely sure this is feasible.

In my opinion, I think we need better/more/more hours of/more options for public transportation. I think we need to be doing more to satisfy our own needs locally, like growing our own foods, making our own products, instead of buying goods that come from overseas. I think we should be shifting away from burning fossil fuels. I think we should be educating drivers about the rights/safety of bikers, and creating more routes for only bikes. Consumption needs to decrease, in so many different areas.

Biochemistry Week Eleven

The discussion on Placebo effect was very interesting. The power of belief seems to be an effective healing tool. Both the belief of the patient and the healer are required (double blind). What is even more bizarre is the experience of side effects in placebo studies. I am curious to see how this can be used to facilitate healing in the future.

Biochemistry is a discipline that is central to all the life sciences and biomedical sciences.

This definition puts Biochemistry at the center of all science! As far as I understand it anyway. This is saying quite a bit. It is interesting to me in the light of this definition that we only study biochemistry for five weeks at our school.

This definition of biochemistry defines the discipline in terms of other things, so really it is just speaking to its position within the hierarchy of science. The definition does not actually describe what it is.

I watched the Fire from Water animation. Although I did not understand what was happening from the video (on a chemical level) it was amazing to see water being throw into a big beaker causing flames to erupt! Very cool.

Week 7 Physics assignment

Ordered Chaos -  yes it sounds familiar, it is the way my life works! haha. but seriously.
Fractals as patterns of complex systems, this is a very cool thought. Little changes in the variables can have great effects on the outcomes. Once again, this resonates with me in terms of what my experience has been.
Consciousness. The quote at the top of the page in the packet on chaos and consciousness sums up my feelings very well. "The problem of consciousness is perhaps the largest obstacle in our quest to scientifically understand reality."
What is consciousness and what is reality? How can we know anything about reality while operating through consciousness and perception? Is the entire universe conscious? Or are only living systems conscious. I had a discussion with a scientist the other day. He works on molecular biology and foods, cellulose... and he was causally letting me know that insects are not conscious... When will the division between human consciousness and animal/plant/environment consciousness drop away enough for the majority of people to have a different understanding of what makes up consciousness? Yikes.

I tried the silverware experiments. Very fun :)

Chemistry Week 7 Assignment

My semi-conductor is Silicon. It is the main constituent in sand and quartz as well as many other stones, including jasper, opal and chalcedony. Obsidian is less pure silicon, and silicon is the main constituent of tektites. Silicon is the second most abundant Earth element after oxygen. It appears to be a metal, with a metallic finish when crystalized (in diamond cubic crystalline structure), but it is not a metal.
The Chemical symbol of Silicon is Si. Silicon has an atomic number of 14. It has 14 protons and 14 electrons. Its atomic mass is 28, meaning that it has 14 neutrons.
Silicon has five electron orbitals in use. 1s, 2s, 2p and 3s orbitals are completely filled. The 3p orbital has 2 electrons out of six filled. Its electron arrangement gives it many opportunities to bond with other elements.
In order to turn Silicon into a conductor (which allows it to be used in electronics) it must be 'doped' or combined with another element which creates a different arrangement of electrons and allows it to conduct electricity.

Alchemy
I would say that alchemy is all three. Science and art and magic.

Discussion
I really enjoyed the discussion that we had about alchemy in class week 7. It relates to the question above about alchemy so I thought I would dive into it here. We discussed the meaning of the word alchemy, and its root in change. Science deals with change, physical, chemical changes. Art deals with change, emotional, mental, perceptual changes. Magic deals with changes, whatever type those would be, it seems the range is bigger for magic.
The thing that Larry said about the root of the word for alchemy in hebrew coming from the word for yearning was really cool. I like the association of those two. Desire for change. Very nice.

Loafing without feeling guilty :)

Each day last week I loafed without feeling guilty... or at least most of the time I didn't feel guilty.
The first day I sat in my place, at a seat by a bay window. I looked outside at the trees and plants and little butterflies that came over. I spent about 15 minutes.
This first day was the hardest in terms of not forgetting what I was un-doing. I kept having to stop myself from getting up and beginning some task. Or I would begin thinking about my life and all the things that I have to do, in what order I would do them and what was going to have to go undone, like sleeping or eating good food.
I found that loafing is quite a bit like meditation. Having the purpose of just sitting and not feeling bad is hard to remember in a world where there is always more to be doing to 'keep up' or not fall behind.
I found that I like loafing in public the best. In places where people are coming and going, there is always someone to watch. People watching is a great pastime, and helps with one's constant thoughts. I had a harder time thinking about myself and my life while watching other people.
I also found that loafing outside is much better than loafing inside. There are so many more noises outside. My porch is a great place to loaf and I will be taking better advantage of that in the future. It took this assignment for me to realize how great my porch is when I need to stop running around in circles.

Biology Week 7 Assignment Considering Cancer

Well, Im not sure how well we understand cancer, we seem to have some sort of grasp with what is happening, but we do not know exactly where the cellular impetus for cancer lies... We can see a couple of ways in which cancer can be fought, but the ways that contemporary medicine has come up with to combat cancer are pretty intense and damaging to the human system as a whole, these techniques do not only target the cancer cells.
I would say that there is still a lot to be discovered about cancer. And a lot left wanting in terms of treatment. My mother went through breast cancer a few years ago and is still receiving chemo for it. It is so hard to watch her suffer from the medicine. She was on a couple of the oral chemo drugs that were mentioned in the articles we read. The articles did not mention any of the tremendously debilitating side effects that she and many others on these drugs experienced.
Based on the treatment offered by western science, I would say that we do not understand cancer.

TCM's approach to cancer differs from western Medicine's approach in that TCM strengthens the entire individual, addressing overall imbalance and weak qi. Western Medicine attempts to isolate the cancer and destroy it, but fails in this an causes further damage to the individual. TCM facilitates the development of the immune system so that the body can become stronger and heal itself. TCM is concerned with the emotional, digestive, immunological, psychological and spiritual aspects of dis-ease.

I was very interested in the article that compared the treatment of cancer in various countries around the world. It is a great example of how a question can dictate an answer. When we approach cancer treatment and survival from a particular perspective, it appears that the US does ok, but when we examine the parameters of measurement, questions of quality appear. Where is the qualitative study of the experience of cancer and its treatment? Is the number of years a person continues to live after diagnosis an appropriate way to think about successful treatment? After wintnessing my mother's experience, I am not convinced cancer treatment is being approached and practiced humanely by the medical industry in the United States.

Biology Week 6 Assignment

I would distinguish between living and a non-living systems by whether something reacts. Does the system make changes when acted upon? Something that is alive adjusts itself after an event takes place, reconfigures. Living things grow. Non-living things remain the same.

I agree that society determines race. Race is a system of categorization. Like other categories, its limits are determined more or less arbitrarily. The boundaries of race differ in different cultures, just as the perception of colors differ in different cultures.
DNA studies reveal that there are more genetic differences within given 'races' than between them.
Given this, 'race' is a very real thing sociologically.

Physics Week 6 Assignment - vibrations

No, I would say that not all vibrations are good... Some people and their vibrations are not good for me at least! I guess that would be a relative thing. There are some vibrations I wish would not be a part of my life. Like stress or truth lying under the surface that you can feel... haha, I guess I am not in the best head space to answer this question right now. I hope no one is affected by my 'meh' vibes.

I feel resonance with certain people and places. I don't have to adjust or change my patterns to become comfortable. That is what I think of as resonance, being in sync with something... it feels familiar or comfortable, or fits and is easy to be with.

Energy and Chi
I guess I think about them both as underlying forces that connect everything. I don't know enough about chi yet to really say too much, but especially as far as people go, their energy and chi is palpable. Some people make my stomach feel uneasy, make me nervous... Some people I worry about because the reading I get from them is so subdued or light I wonder if they are ok. Some people have very strong force coming from them. Some people make me feel good to be around, some are calming and bright. Energy and Chi, maybe different ways of looking at a similar phenomenon.

Chemistry week 6 Assignment

My alkali earth metal is calcium. Calcium has an atomic number of 20, so it has 20 protons and 20 electrons. Its atomic mass is 20, so it has 20 neutrons. The Chemical symbol is Ca. Calcium is the most abundant metal in animals, forming teeth, bones and shells.
Calcium is in seawater and in the earth's crust.
Calcium has many practical uses including the extraction and production of other metals, the formation of cheese and in making cements and mortars.

Got all three questions right... interesting to read.

Very interesting and witty article. "So, it turns out that an amount of any chemical compound that is equal to the combined atomic weights or the molecular weight, expressed in grams, contains 602,213,670,000,000,000,000,000 molecules" - A mole.

Biology Week 5 Assignment - Complexity of Life

New Species Emerge...
Well, the examples that we saw about chimpanzee and human interbreeding, and about neanderthal and human interbreeding gives me a kind of idea about how new species emerge... at some point similar creatures that may have begun from a common ancestor no longer have as much in common and are no longer able to produce offspring together. I think it is a matter of adaptation and time. But as far as the actual mechanism for adaptation/change within a creature's offspring, I don't understand that process. In physiology we studied DNA/RNA replication, and it is a very complex process with many points at which things can go "wrong" or create a different outcome than the planned one... But as far as how optimal adaptations occur, it seems pretty miraculous. When I think about it, I start thinking about "God", or the original source of energy and life... the first push toward life, and how myriad forms of life emerged from single celled organisms, reminiscent of the fractals that we studied last week... order emerging from the chaos and vice versa. As a feeling this conceptual space is so full and awesome. Putting it into words reduces this incredible process, making it flatter. Short answer, I don't know how new species emerge.

I vote for the egg, definitely. It makes sense that the offspring should be the first chicken... Too bad we don't know what came before the egg, eh?

Physics Week 5 Assignment - Sacred Geometry and Symmetry

My Asymmetrical World

Yes my world certainly is asymmetrical! Certainly my body is not perfectly symmetrical, my right arm is stronger than my left, one of my eyes in a different shape than the other, I could go on and on :) I live in an asymmetrical apartment. I ride my bike with a bag full of books over one shoulder. I cross my leg over the other. etc.
In some ways it does matter, I try to maintain balance within my body and within my life. But ultimately it is just an ideal I reach for, it is pretty unattainable. As long as I am healthy and capable of moving through the world I will not be too concerned with symmetry.

CP violation

Well, an experiment was done which reversed the charge and parity of an electron, and it decayed very differently than the original electron. But the CPT theorem includes Time, not just Charge and Parity, like the experiment worked with. Since we cannot run time backwards for an experiment, it is a good question, what does this CP violation really mean? "either the CPT theorem is incorrect, or the kaon decays in a different way in a universe where time runs backward" I don't know what it means. i don't think I ever will.

Sacred Geometry and Physics
Yes there are connections between sacred geometry and physics. Sacred geometrical images were made in exploration of abstract concepts that physics also works to explain, like time and other dimensions and consciousness. Also it turns out that these images reflect higher dimensional math. The Golden Mean or Ratio is also a great example of sacred geometry and physics/mathematics coming together. The spirals that we find throughout nature and human history relate to the Fibonacci sequence, and we have discovered that this sequence also applies to the structure of galaxies, event horizons of black wholes and molecular components :)

Chemistry Week 5 Assignment - color and nutrition

Inert gas of the WEEEEEK

Argon - Atomic number 18, 18 protons and 18 electrons, chemical symbol Ar, atomic mass of 40, so it has 32 neutrons. Argon is the 3rd most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere, so we are breathing it right now :) Argon undergoes almost no chemical reactions, which is why it is named after the Greek word for 'lazy' or 'inactive'. As far as I can tell, Argon with 18 electrons fills completely up to the 4p electron orbital. This is why is doesn't really react with other elements, its electrons are happy the way they are and so it doesn't share, lose or gain with/from others. Argon is used in welding and other industrial processes, where other normally nonreactive substances sometimes become reactive. It also makes a blue-green gas laser. It is colorless, odorless, nontoxic and nonflammable as a solid, liquid and gas. It is super super inert.

My Kitchen Colors

I have a pretty good assortment of colors in my fridge and cupboard. Dried mango slices, yellow-pink cherries, blueberries, green beans, carrots, red onions, wheat grass powder, brown rice, eggs. But alongside that I do have quite a few beige foods... its all about balance, right? this exercise definitely makes me shop differently!

Class Discussion

It was interesting to consider the inappropriate or inefficient use of green power. We seem to have an infrastructure problem, which is symbolic of a lot of issues that arise with change... how do we incorporate new changes into an existing system?
I really enjoyed the section/articles on nutrition and color, and the chakras! I think that it is much better in so many ways to teach young humans about health and healthy food/lifestyle choices while they are young as opposed to waiting until there is a serious problem to foster balance. And I really like the chakra system. I find that studying the chakras is a good way to remind myself about all the various aspects of my life that need consideration and care. I agree with what Larry said in class about women not feeling empowered more often than not in the throat chakra. I was talking to my older sister on friday and she said the same thing. Men also can feel disempowered to speak their truth. I think we would all feel better if we could feel free to express ourselves.

Biology Week 4 Assignment - Animal Intelligence revisited

It seems pretty obvious that in general we do not understand animal intelligence and because their cognition and behavior is not exactly like ours we assume that they are not 'smart'. It also seems like there is a growing understanding that animals are intelligent creatures, with feelings, memories and attachments to family and community. The article on elephants was very interesting, what I took away from it was a greater appreciation for the necessity of elders in community, to create a foundation for offspring. Elephants recognize the sound patterns of different languages and have an emotional experience based on past interactions with those different language cultures. They are clearly highly aware beings, but because they do not speak our language we assume we are the superior... it is sad to me that animals are not accorded more respect and dignity, but things seem to be changing for the better.

Physics Week 4 Assignment - Energy Matter and the Four Forces

E=m*(c*c)

I read something online today about Einstein's personal life. The article said that he was not a genius in personal relationships like he was with physics... and I suppose what we talked about in class regarding his use of younger more mathematically oriented minds in order to produce his discoveries also points to Einsteins fallibility and human nature. Regardless, this equation boggles my mind. I don't really know what to think about it, or how it relates to my life on a day to day basis. I try to think, 'Matter is Energy divided by the speed of light squared.' A person divides energy by the speed of light (squared) to get matter, and to get energy, a person multiplies Matter (mass) by the speed of light squared. So they are on the same continuum, but what does any of this mean? Are we light? Are we Energy? What is mass? Does putting these three things into an equation together define them any better? I guess so...

The Four Forces

Gravity - Gravity has unlimited range (like electromagnetism). Gravity depends on mass of the two bodies and the distance between them. Gravity's messenger particle has not been discovered, but string theory is closest to being able to incorporate it. Gravity acts in only one direction, which is unique. Also, now not really considered a force, but rather through space-time mechanics (as being composed of gravitational time dilation and the curvature of space).

Electromagnetism - Has unlimited range (like Gravity), but unlike gravity, it works in two directions, attraction and repulsion (positive and negative) which can cancel each other out. Electromagnetism keeps atoms together (positively charged nucleus vs. negatively charged electrons) and defines their atomic size (more particles to keep the charge neutral means bigger atoms). The messenger particle in the photon which travels at the speed of light.

Weak Nuclear Force - Very limited range, inside the atomic nucleus. Responsible for radioactive decay (turns neutrons into protons and protons into neutrons). Stronger than electromagnetism but because messenger particles (W and Z bosons) are so big and slow they do not transmit its intrinsic strength.

Strong Nuclear Force - Strongest force, responsible for keeping quarks inside protons and neutrons and keeping protons and neutrons inside the atomic nucleus. Limited range, like Weak Force, to subatomic particles. Messenger particle is the gluon (massless) which glues elementary particles together.

Function of Gravity
Einstein said that the presence of matter warps time-space. So what is the role or purpose of gravity? To show that things are inter-related and not separate? To demonstrate interconnectedness? I know that gravity is important for human life processes and enables us to be the musculoskeletal beings that we are, but I don't know what the purpose of gravity in the universe may be. Yikes.

Chemistry Week 4 Assignment - Catalysts

My catalyst of the week is Glucose oxidase. Glucose oxidase works in cells to break down sugar into smaller molecules.
Glucose Oxidase is a oxidoreductase, a class of enzymes which catalyze the transfer of electrons from one molecule (the reductant or electron donor) to another molecule (the oxidant or electron acceptor).  Specifically, glucose oxidase catalyses the oxidation of glucose to hydrogen peroxide and D-glucono-o-lactone.
Glucose Oxidase requires the coenzyme FAD in order to perform its function.
Glucose Oxidase is now used in baking, in testing blood glucose level, as an antibiotic, and as a preservative.

Reflections on class discussion;
Well, I am surprised that I got so heated about the article 'Chemical Exposure a Bigger Threat than Climate Change', written by the author of the book, 'Poisoned Planet. I wish I had been able to express my difference of opinion with the author in a manner that did not come across so aggressive. I agree that shifting consumer habits is necessary in order to shift production... but like I said in class, I believe there needs to be legislation that makes it in the interest of any company, regardless of size, to decrease production of toxic substances for market or use pre-market. 
It is amazing to me how far reaching our local practices are. I think many people, myself sometimes included, forget how closely linked everything on the planet is from moment to moment. In this age, it seems to me that isolation and alienation are just as important to consider and overcome as are toxic production and toxicity proliferation. If humans felt more intimately linked to one another and the planet, would it be easier to make sustainable decisions?

Biology Week Three Assignment

“99.4% of the most critical DNA sites are identical in human and chimp genes”
It is amazing that so little genetic differentiation can lead to such, apparently, different creatures. We (at least some of us...) certainly are overgrown monkeys with too much cognitive power for our own good. It makes sense that we are so similar to Chimps, we have the same basic body structure, we live in groups. We obviously are related, whether we came from them or they came from us is irrelevant. We are both here now and need the same things to live, warmth, food, water and connection.

1. Correct. Viruses are not alive... but this is such a weird thought. What are they doing...
2. Correct. I only knew this because of physiology, thank you dr. philips
3. Correct. same as question 2
4. Correct
5. Correct. we have a cell membrane? not a cell wall
6. Incorrect, I didn't realize that mitochondria were in plants... also because they are bacteria, they have their own DNA.

In our class discussion what was most interesting to me is a pretty obvious thing, that money is fueling our scientific research into stem cells. Whether it is for beauty applications, or cures for (perhaps preventable) diseases, the flow of money and the desire to harness a part of that flow is shaping the course of our scientific discourse. How unfortunate and telling it is of our species. We can do better than this!

Physics Week Three Assignment

I have had many synchronous moments in my life. Thinking about someone right before you see them or receive a phone call from them. Ive had a dream come true, and Im not talking about one element of the dream showing up in reality, I mean the whole thing. That was an especially interesting one because I was so struck by the dream had I told my roommate the day I had it, and then when it happened about two weeks later I had someone who believed me. That experience was very meaningful to me, I had been contemplating a personal decision and the Synchronicity happened around around a woman who had made the decision I had been thinking of making. To me it was the universe giving me a warning as to what the outcome could be. Weird awesome stuff happens in life, and it is nice to have a term for it, and to believe that it is meaningful and important. I do believe that things are meaningful when we make them meaningful, not before. Before we make them meaningful, they just are things.

I believe in connectivity, in the words of Lauryn Hill (only slightly kidding here), Everything is Everything :) Nothing is isolated, nothing stands alone.
The notion of Entanglement is an interesting thought in relation to connectivity. Once particles have become entangled, their properties depend on each other no matter how far apart they are. This reminds me of creatures that are tightly bonded, how they have a feeling for each other's well being no matter how great a distance there is between them.
I do not know how to explain connectivity because I don't understand the nature of existence, which is connecting everything. I guess drops in a pond is a good metaphor, but things don't always work in such a straight forward fashion.

Chemistry Week Three Assignments

Transitional Metal, Copper (Cu)

Copper has an atomic number of 29, it has 29 Protons and 29 Electrons. It has 35 Neutrons, and an atomic mass of 63.546. Its Crystal Structure is Cubic.
Copper has one electron at the 4th energy level, meaning, it occupies 4 energy levels.
It conducts electricity and is used often in Jewelry, plumbing and coins (although the copper penny has now been replaced with a copper nickel alloy because the worth of the copper exceeded the worth of the penny.)
Copper is found in humans in the Liver, Bone and muscle. It is a necessary dietary nutrient.
Pure copper is soft, alloys are used to make copper use functional.
Copper oxidizes with air and turns a darker color, but normally it is red or orange.

The article Neptune's Medicine Chest makes me feel conflicted. On the one hand it is important to and so many people are depending on finding cures for cancer, etc. The ocean is a vast resource that is largely unexplored. On the other hand, the article makes plain that this is a capitalistic venture, that cures are patented. That it is only within large (quasi governmental) institutions like universities where research is being done. Once again, there seems to be no concern for environment... environment leading to disease, environment that may be destroyed through misuse, environment having its own integrity to respect. It made me sad to think of these well funded scientists drinking margaritas and not considering the angle their work assumes.

What an amazing link, Advancing Green Chemistry! I feel like I could, and will spend some serious time on this site. I read an article about Phalates and an article about stain protectors found in increasing amounts in the blood stream. There certainly are people doing good in the world, people who are interested in honestly looking at what we are doing and coming at the issues of today, lie cancer, from a different angle that could result in future preventative results.

http://advancinggreenchemistry.org/ 

Biology Week Two Assignment Evo-Devo

Evolutionary development is absolutely fascinating. As far as we are aware at this point, we developed here on Earth, from the same single cell organisms. The whole process is slow and incomprehensible in many ways... but over enough time life began so varied as to produce the world of creatures and plants as we know it today. What a miraculous process. Fossil records are our way of looking back into the past, and we continue to develop theories about the origin of our own and other species.
Darwinism and how it matters to me... sometimes I wonder about the viability of my own genes, I am not made for the sun, I am extremely sensitive in many ways, etc, and a weird judgmental darwinism concept inside my head creates nervousness. This is not something that I am proud of or grateful for, I don't enjoy it or benefit from it... but it is there, wondering whether, the next time there is a bottle-neck in evolution, I or my (non-existent, perhaps future) progeny will make it to the other side.
Otherwise generally, the physical implications of darwinism are inspiring. The adaptable nature of being reminds me that we all, big and small, roll with the punches and shift with context.

Links-
Even the concept of Evolution has evolved! ha. It makes sense that we are still piecing together the way that nature moves through time.
I really enjoyed the second article, it was very interesting to think about the evolution of spiritual ideas... but science cannot explain why we exist, why anything came into existence. Science cannot go back before the big bang, science is not the answer to any real mystery, the questions that are beyond words. Evolution is obviously a very successful adaptation, it can be used for so many things and in so many ways... but time will tell which will last.
Also, the article made a point that academics are explaining many different types of phenomena, including acts like rape, with evolution. I see this as taking the easy way out, if not accompanied by an in depth investigation into the mind states and backgrounds of people who commit atrocities like that. Can everything be reduced to evolution, to the interest of the species? SHOULD everything be reduced to evolution? Seems stupid to me, too simple... I don't know.

Chemistry Week Two Assignment

I don't know what to think about Bacon perfume. I am not interested in perfume, much less smelling like something that most people want to eat. That is a bit out of my range of pursuits.

I hope that Paris Gray got to walk with her class. Georgia is a strange and frightening place to me.

I found the article on Atomic Orbitals very informative and strange. That these subatomic particles follow rules that we can somewhat ascertain is amazing. There are different kinds of orbitals, but the order in which electrons fill them is fixed. Each element is unique yet follows universal guidelines... so bizarre and perfect.

Antibiotic resistance makes me nervous and sad. I am very grateful for all of the amazing advancements that western medical science has given us, my little sister suffered from ear infections quite a bit as a child and I shudder to think what may have happened to her without antibiotics.
The production of toxic chemicals is also disheartening. I used to worry more about things like this, but a person can only do so much. A few years ago I came to the conclusion (my personal conclusion for myself) that instead of freaking out and trying to fight against what seems to me to be highly momentous, politically and economically powerful industries with interests in putting living organisms' health at risk, I would instead focus my energy in a direction that I do believe in, that promotes balance and well being.
It does seem to me that the Earth will find a balance in the end. As inventive creatures we can do our best to avoid suffering/deprivation in the short run, but long term consequences of throwing off the balance is what? What are we doing to the quality of life of future generations? Will we live to see the ramifications of these drug/toxin/environment interactions? I think the Earth is going to win... it will outlive us all.

Links
Ionic Bonding seems like a very cool thing. It somehow reminds me of legos, like pieces of matter that were made to fit together, albeit of a very different nature.
The Purdue site I would have appreciated to have practical examples... I have a hard time picturing/imagining the difference between the compounds, mixtures, etc.

Physics Week Two Assignment

The uncertainty principle is very bizarre. On the atomic level we can see an object and know how fast it is going in which direction. But at the sub atomic level, we cannot know position and momentum simultaneously. It is a very interesting principle to have to work with on the sub atomic level, and what does that mean for our subatomic particles? Things are not distinct or discrete on a sub atomic level, so what are we? Are we here or not?

Causality -
It is incredible to think that observation effects outcomes. In fact I find this to be true of myself sometimes, perhaps not on the same scale as the things we are studying in this class but for example... When I am in a funky mood things strike me more negatively. I have a harder time finding beauty in the world and miss out on things. When I am in a positive, open place within myself, amazing things may happen and/or I am able to move through the world in a way that causes me to grow and progress. My own observations of myself do indeed seem to affect my physical, emotion and mental experiences, to say nothing of the spiritual realm that modern science seems to gloss over...

Yes the universe is very weird. Light does't conform to our standard notions of behavior of matter, it acts like a wave and a particle. The uncertainty principle also defies our understandings of matter. Black holes bend time-space and we have no idea what they are. Observation effects phenomena.

Physics Week One Assignment

Bio - How I Came to ACCHS
I was raised in a(n), more typical than I would like to think, atypical family situation. My parents, both contemporary MDs, divorced when I was four and I had a split childhood between the bay area, where I was born, and Minnesota, where both of my parents' families live. Suffice it to say that I feel that my parents did the best that they could but both were not able to give my siblings and I the care or attention that developing human beings need. Looking back I now see that whenever either of my workaholic parents (separately) encountered a problem with one of us, they both would respond with quick fixes, pills and/or criticism/judgement to suppress the symptom of a deeper imbalance that would have been more sustainably addressed through diet, lifestyle or deeper/more personalized examination and/or connection.

By the time I reached my early 20's my inner and outer lives were off kilter. I had lost my faith in the Kaiser Health Insurance Plan that I was lucky enough to be provided with through my father's job (until age 26 thanks to Obamacare). I began seeking alternatives (herbalism, meditation, cleanses, mind altering substances) to change both my physical and mental states. During this time I studied Language, Metaphor, Cultural Assumptions and Sustainability and wrote a thesis on the American Mindset and global trends in Environment and Politics in order to receive a bachelors degree in 2011.

After I graduated I felt discouraged by the present state of affairs and was unsure how to proceed in living a life of integrity given my knowledge of so many institutions that appeared (to me) to undermine human, animal and plant environmental and global health and peace. Over the last three years I have tried many things, moved around quite a bit and basically floundered while learning what it was that I did not want to do with my life.

Then, less than two years ago, I met a graduate of ACCHS, Naandi. She rented a studio/treatment room in the back of the tattoo shop where I was working at the time. I began receiving acupuncture. Naandi bore witness without judgement to the emotional and physical spaces I was moving through in my life. I began to realize that I can make the most out of the present and direct my energy where I want to see growth. Slowly things in my life began to shift and I began moving in the direction of the healing arts. I received two certificates in Swedish and Therapeutic Massage last year and then decided that I want to be a catalyst for positive change in the lives of others who are struggling, like Naandi was/is for me. I became a first hand witness to the power of Chinese Medicine and Healing Connection, so here I am.

What do I think about physics, honestly?
I really like physics, and like I said in class, I find that the more I learn about physics, the less I feel I understand about the universe and why we are here. Physics explains physical laws and traces back to a certain point, but does not explain why anything exists, it does not explain why there are time and space, nor where they come from.
I like thinking about physics especially because it gives me perspective on my life. I can't worry about quizzes and bills when I look up at a sky full of stars and appreciate how little and lucky we are on this planet.

Have you ever experienced time speeding up or slowing down?
Yes, time goes quickly when Im enjoying myself and slowly when I am not. Days turn into weeks turn into years and I forget how old I am.


Reflections

It is fascinating that there is physical evidence of the big bang still floating around the universe. The Big Bang is very mysterious to me, and I wonder why it happened, how it happened, generally I wonder why anything exists at all in the first place... Like I said earlier. What the heck is going on here? Eeeeeek.
The article we read about Atomic clocks put into perspective the relativity of our Earthly notion of time. That we have gained seconds in the day is a very strange and challenging thing to wrap my head around. There is just more time... even though it doesn't feel like it and in fact it feels the opposite. The article also made me think about how instead of adjusting the units by which we measure a day, the people in charge of addressing this issue have added a couple more seconds, which is totally awkward and illogical. It appears that some of us may have issues with change... heh heh.
Relativity of time was also the subject of the article we read on different cultural conceptions on time. So much of what we think and feel is cultural, therefore relative and not absolute truth. How often do I forget this in my daily life.

Impressions on Quantum Mechanics
I think it is always very helpful to learn through active application of information. An active application of quantum mechanics sounds very helpful to real, practical understanding. The second article/website makes this point also, along with general suggestions on writing, some of which I had forgotten and should reinvest in :) I agree that it is not wise for our society to be so dependent on technologies that the average person cannot understand. Learning a science is like learning another language. We need translators.
I have never thought about the origins of quantum mechanics, I always assumed it was a later invention than I discovered while reading the third website/article. It is very interesting to me how it took so many brilliant minds so many years to produce this kind of knowledge. By my count about 22 different scientists and about 35 years. yikes. All that work just to begin a deeper understanding of energy and matter. I wonder if this exploration will ever bring us closer to really understanding existence, or will we continue to go in circles around ever present mystery.

Week One Biology Assignment

Bio - How I Came to ACCHS
I was raised in a(n), more typical than I would like to think, atypical family situation. My parents, both contemporary MDs, divorced when I was four and I had a split childhood between the bay area, where I was born, and Minnesota, where both of my parents' families live. Suffice it to say that I feel that my parents did the best that they could but both were not able to give my siblings and I the care or attention that developing human beings need. Looking back I now see that whenever either of my workaholic parents (separately) encountered a problem with one of us, they both would respond with quick fixes, pills and/or criticism/judgement to suppress the symptom of a deeper imbalance that would have been more sustainably addressed through diet, lifestyle or deeper/more personalized examination and/or connection.

By the time I reached my early 20's my inner and outer lives were off kilter. I had lost my faith in the Kaiser Health Insurance Plan that I was lucky enough to be provided with through my father's job (until age 26 thanks to Obamacare). I began seeking alternatives (herbalism, meditation, cleanses, mind altering substances) to change both my physical and mental states. During this time I studied Language, Metaphor, Cultural Assumptions and Sustainability and wrote a thesis on the American Mindset and global trends in Environment and Politics in order to receive a bachelors degree in 2011.

After I graduated I felt discouraged by the present state of affairs and was unsure how to proceed in living a life of integrity given my knowledge of so many institutions that appeared (to me) to undermine human, animal and plant environmental and global health and peace. Over the last three years I have tried many things, moved around quite a bit and basically floundered while learning what it was that I did not want to do with my life.

Then, less than two years ago, I met a graduate of ACCHS, Naandi. She rented a studio/treatment room in the back of the tattoo shop where I was working at the time. I began receiving acupuncture. Naandi bore witness without judgement to the emotional and physical spaces I was moving through in my life. I began to realize that I can make the most out of the present and direct my energy where I want to see growth. Slowly things in my life began to shift and I began moving in the direction of the healing arts. I received two certificates in Swedish and Therapeutic Massage last year and then decided that I want to be a catalyst for positive change in the lives of others who are struggling, like Naandi was/is for me. I became a first hand witness to the power of Chinese Medicine and Healing Connection, so here I am.



Class Discussion on Animal Intelligence and Cloning

I enjoyed the discussion in class about animal intelligence. It was provocative to problematize the notion of intelligence in general. It makes me wonder what intelligence is, it seems to be an ability...is it the ability to behave in a desired fashion, to complete certain tasks, to communicate understanding, to operate within certain controlling/designing structures. Whatever 'intelligence' is, it seems to be relative to whomever is measuring it.
I also appreciated the discussion of cloning, but I fear I came across as anti-human cloning in the end. I want to express my lack of a position with respect to whether or not anyone should attempt to clone a human being. I don't know what to think about human cloning, Im sure there are positives to be gained from it in the health technology sector, and I wonder just what the negative impacts of such technology might be. I feel like there are many ways that cloning human beings could be problematic. We are currently struggling to gain equality for second class citizens of many kinds all over the world and here domestically. How would clones be considered politically, socially, etc? That is the kind of space my mind started toward. I also thought of a half dozen science fictions novels/films... but thats a discussion for another time and place.


Darwinism -
This is an interesting idea, and I am glad someone came up with it because it is not necessarily obvious in the present moment. It resonates with many philosophies and other truths about the world, that everything is in a constant state of change. It is unfortunate that some people used this theory to rationalize injustice, but that possibility seems to lie within everything.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/ what an amazing website! I will return to it in the future to explore more thoroughly.
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/ also a great resource for a more academic understanding of evolution

Chemistry Week One Assignments

Bio - How I Came to ACCHS
I was raised in a(n), more typical than I would like to think, atypical family situation. My parents, both contemporary MDs, divorced when I was four and I had a split childhood between the bay area, where I was born, and Minnesota, where both of my parents' families live. Suffice it to say that I feel that my parents did the best that they could but both were not able to give my siblings and I the care or attention that developing human beings need. Looking back I now see that whenever either of my workaholic parents (separately) encountered a problem with one of us, they both would respond with quick fixes, pills and/or criticism/judgement to suppress the symptom of a deeper imbalance that would have been more sustainably addressed through diet, lifestyle or deeper/more personalized examination and/or connection.

By the time I reached my early 20's my inner and outer lives were off kilter. I had lost my faith in the Kaiser Health Insurance Plan that I was lucky enough to be provided with through my father's job (until age 26 thanks to Obamacare). I began seeking alternatives (herbalism, meditation, cleanses, mind altering substances) to change both my physical and mental states. During this time I studied Language, Metaphor, Cultural Assumptions and Sustainability and wrote a thesis on the American Mindset and global trends in Environment and Politics in order to receive a bachelors degree in 2011.

After I graduated I felt discouraged by the present state of affairs and was unsure how to proceed in living a life of integrity given my knowledge of so many institutions that appeared (to me) to undermine human, animal and plant environmental and global health and peace. Over the last three years I have tried many things, moved around quite a bit and basically floundered while learning what it was that I did not want to do with my life.

Then, less than two years ago, I met a graduate of ACCHS, Naandi. She rented a studio/treatment room in the back of the tattoo shop where I was working at the time. I began receiving acupuncture. Naandi bore witness without judgement to the emotional and physical spaces I was moving through in my life. I began to realize that I can make the most out of the present and direct my energy where I want to see growth. Slowly things in my life began to shift and I began moving in the direction of the healing arts. I received two certificates in Swedish and Therapeutic Massage last year and then decided that I want to be a catalyst for positive change in the lives of others who are struggling, like Naandi was/is for me. I became a first hand witness to the power of Chinese Medicine and Healing Connection, so here I am.


Results from Quiz
1. Correct, correct, correct, correct
2. Correct, incorrect, correct, incorrect
3. Correct
4. Correct


My Element of the Week is Oxygen :)
Not sure exactly what Im supposed to describe for I am going to decode the information about oxygen from the Periodic Table

Oxygen's chemical symbol is O
Oxygen's atomic number is 8, meaning it has 8 Protons and 8 Electrons
Oxygen is the chemical name
Oxygen's atomic mass is 16, meaning that it has 8 Neutrons
Oxygen is a gas at room temperature


I checked out the Spiral periodic tables link. I found these visual representation of the period table to be much more aesthetically pleasing! And it was fun to read the descriptions of how all of the different people have reorganized the standard periodic table over time. I really appreciated the oval representation. It lends itself to a totally different understanding of the elements, although I wish the table was bigger so I could more easily read the elements are compare it to the one we have printed in our packet.

I also played the periodic table game link at Fun Brain. It was a fun and easy way to start familiarizing myself with the Elements! I will go back and use this link as a study tool. Thanks!