Friday, September 9, 2011
Conclusion
Having done so much of posts for science e-portfolio, my view on certain things have definitely matured and I really had fun in researching and finding all the information, then putting them together. That's all for my e-portfolio, Thanks!!!
Reflection on Science Olympiad Course
This shall be my last post for my science e-portfolio. I will be reflecting on the science olympiad course I have been offered to enrich my learning in science. Having attended all of the sessions of the science olympiad course, I must really say that I have learnt a lot and even topics like ecology where I am learning in the normal syllabus, science olympiad teaches this topic more in-depth. I am exceptionally grateful to my science olympiad teachers for teaching me so patiently as I sometimes could not understand the information taught. I enjoyed the biology lessons the most as I feel that biology is more easy to understand for me and may also find it easier to learn because the first topic taught was ecology which I have already learnt when I was in primary school. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the lessons of the other two sciences as well. All the trainers have really spent their time and effort in preparing the notes and teaching us, hoping to finish the syllabus in time so that we can benefit and do well in the quiz which will be given at the end of the course. On the whole, I must say that the course is teaching quite little topics but in detail for all and some even corresponds with what I am learning in the normal school syllabus. I really enjoy this course and hope that I can join it again next year!
Reflection on the year's practical sessions
Firstly, I would like to thank my science teacher, Ms. Lim Jin Yi for making the year's practical sessions a successful one. This whole year, Ms. Lim has been trying her best to teach and impart to the class her knowledge on science and I have definitely benefited a lot under her guidance. However, I feel that the class could be better well-behaved so that all the lessons could be completed on time. It is often observed that the class reaches the laboratory 10-15minutes late and always make a lot of noise when in the laboratory, causing the lesson to not be able to proceed proper. Although some of the worksheets are not completed, I sincerely thank Ms. Lim for going through the concepts of these worksheets in class so that we can learn as much as possible and not lose out in learning. Throughout the lessons in the laboratory, I exceptionally enjoyed pair work when testing the properties of Acids and Alkali where for one of the components, we were asked to test the alkali and acidic solutions with a universal indicator. I really find this hands-on experience fun and also builds up teamwork between students as I split up the job with my partner to ensure that work is completed on time. Overall, I enjoyed the practical lessons and look forward to next year's practical lessons, hopefully with more discipline!
Headaches
Headaches are pain which often occur in the nerves, blood vessels and muscles of the head and neck. However, a headache does not occur because the brain hurts as the brain itself could not sense pain. Instead, headaches can occur due to various reasons which doctors usually classify under primary and secondary. Primary headaches happen but has nothing got to do with the medical condition of a person. Contrastingly, secondary headaches are associated with medical conditions like sinus.
The three types of primary headaches are migraine headaches, tension headaches and cluster headaches.
Migraine headaches may be caused by reduced blood flow to various areas of the cerebral cortex. A person with migraine headache may be sensitive to light and noise, feel nauseous or even experience intense pain on one side of the head.
Tension headaches may be caused by muscle strains in the head and neck or even emotional stress. This kind of headaches causes aching pains on both sides of the head but may lead to intense pain too. Factors like poor eyesight may cause tension headaches.
Cluster headaches are headaches that does not occur only once but occurs many times over weeks or even months. This kind of headache usually happen on one side of the head, around the eye.The cause of cluster headaches are currently unknown.
In contrast, secondary headaches occur due to some issues of the body, for example, flue and these headaches usually go away when the disease is cured.
Reflections:
I did the topic on "Headaches" as I find it very interesting and I am curious to find out why humans get headache out of nowhere. This research shows the different kind of headaches and the cause of the headaches, thus opening up another point of view for me on this topic of "Headaches". Headaches have often brought to human much disturbance and may even make a person feel frustrated easily when down with a headache. Hopefully, this post can analyse the different kinds and causes of headaches!
Referred to: http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/headache/question648.htm
The three types of primary headaches are migraine headaches, tension headaches and cluster headaches.
Migraine headaches may be caused by reduced blood flow to various areas of the cerebral cortex. A person with migraine headache may be sensitive to light and noise, feel nauseous or even experience intense pain on one side of the head.
Tension headaches may be caused by muscle strains in the head and neck or even emotional stress. This kind of headaches causes aching pains on both sides of the head but may lead to intense pain too. Factors like poor eyesight may cause tension headaches.
Cluster headaches are headaches that does not occur only once but occurs many times over weeks or even months. This kind of headache usually happen on one side of the head, around the eye.The cause of cluster headaches are currently unknown.
In contrast, secondary headaches occur due to some issues of the body, for example, flue and these headaches usually go away when the disease is cured.
Reflections:
I did the topic on "Headaches" as I find it very interesting and I am curious to find out why humans get headache out of nowhere. This research shows the different kind of headaches and the cause of the headaches, thus opening up another point of view for me on this topic of "Headaches". Headaches have often brought to human much disturbance and may even make a person feel frustrated easily when down with a headache. Hopefully, this post can analyse the different kinds and causes of headaches!
Referred to: http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/headache/question648.htm
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Breakthrough of HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (otherwise known as HIV), is the cause of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). This disease is a common disease which up to date, has no cure. It is transmitted through means like sexual intercourse or even transfusion of infected blood. When down with AIDS, a person has a very weak immune system, meaning he gets sick easily and also experience symptoms like diarrhoea and flu-like symptoms. Currently, there are no specific cure to this disease yet, however, there have been some breakthroughs for this deadly disease.
A new drug, code named AK602, was discovered by Hiroaki Mitsuya, leader of the research team at Kumamoto University, at the International Congress on AIDS in Asia. This drug's main feature lies in the fact that it shuts out the AIDS virus at the point when it tries to intrude into a human cell. This drug stands out from the other AIDS medications as the other AIDS medications are not effective after a few days but AK602 reacts to human cells instead of fighting the virus. This drug works in a way where when it is attached to the protein which is the entrance into human cells for AIDS virus, HIV is prevented from entering. The professor said that there is almost no side effects and that it does not cover the whole protein but only closes the specific place where HIV enters, thus the other sections could still function for bodily operations. This drug is the latest breakthrough for HIV and was discovered in 2005.
Reflections:
I did the topic on HIV because firstly, I am currently learning the "surface" of this topic and would like to find out more about it since it is so deadly and there is no cure for it. Also, according to statistics, there are 16,000 new HIV cases everyday and five deaths caused by the virus every minute across the world, thus I see the importance and deadliness of this disease, and made me want to find out more about it. This article has definitely give people a new hope on the topic of HIV which seems to be almighty. Hopefully, this drug could be further developed to another drug which can totally cure AIDS, caused by HIV.
A new drug, code named AK602, was discovered by Hiroaki Mitsuya, leader of the research team at Kumamoto University, at the International Congress on AIDS in Asia. This drug's main feature lies in the fact that it shuts out the AIDS virus at the point when it tries to intrude into a human cell. This drug stands out from the other AIDS medications as the other AIDS medications are not effective after a few days but AK602 reacts to human cells instead of fighting the virus. This drug works in a way where when it is attached to the protein which is the entrance into human cells for AIDS virus, HIV is prevented from entering. The professor said that there is almost no side effects and that it does not cover the whole protein but only closes the specific place where HIV enters, thus the other sections could still function for bodily operations. This drug is the latest breakthrough for HIV and was discovered in 2005.
Reflections:
I did the topic on HIV because firstly, I am currently learning the "surface" of this topic and would like to find out more about it since it is so deadly and there is no cure for it. Also, according to statistics, there are 16,000 new HIV cases everyday and five deaths caused by the virus every minute across the world, thus I see the importance and deadliness of this disease, and made me want to find out more about it. This article has definitely give people a new hope on the topic of HIV which seems to be almighty. Hopefully, this drug could be further developed to another drug which can totally cure AIDS, caused by HIV.
Biology: Why do we have the urge to have sex? What affects the libido of a person?
Many people have sex due to many reasons, for example, some have sex for physical reasons ("I was curious about sex"), while others have sex with a goal in mind (" I wanted to break up a relationship"). This blog post will zero in on the topic of why people have the urge to have sex. To begin, people have the urge to have sex due to this drive called "Libido" which is also the sexual instinct or sexual drive. Different people have different levels of Libido for both men and women and the higher the Libido, the more a person desires for sex. So, what are factors which affect the Libido? (This post will zoom in on why females have the urge to have sex).
Firstly, this sexual drive is affected by minor factors like relationship issues where if the relationship of a man and a woman is not good, the libido for both of them may be low. Also, it is affected by psychological issues like fatigue. It is said that fatigue can decrease a man's sex drive which is caused by factors like illness or even sleep deprived. Psychological issues also cover experience of sexual assault or abuse which leads to the mindset of a person resist sex.
However, the key point on why women have the urge to have sex, lies in the testosterone and menstrual cycle of the woman. Several days before ovulation, it is said that a woman will experience a heightened sexual desire. This cycle has also been associated with changes in a woman's testosterone levels during the menstrual cycle. According to a health journalist,Gabrielle Lichterman, testosterone levels have a direct impact on the sexual drive of a woman as it rise on around the 24th day of a woman's menstrual cycle until ovulation on around the 14th day of the next cycle. Coincidentally, she says that the woman's desire for sex increase consistently during this particular period of time. After ovulation, the testosterone level is the lowest causing women to experience less interest in sex. During this period of time, progesterone levels also increase, resulting in a woman experiencing difficulty achieving orgasm. Although the last days of the menstrual cycle have a constant testosterone level, a woman's sexual drive may increase due to the thickening of the uterine lining which stimulates nerve endings and makes a woman feel aroused.
Reflections:
I decided to do a research on this topic as I feel that many teenagers are always doing the "wrong" thing, engaging in underage sex and this issue seemed to worsen every year. I wonder what causes human beings to want to have this urge to have sex and thus did a detailed research on this topic. Based on my findings, it seems that this sexual drive occurs due to many reasons and it has definitely raised my knowledge on the issue of sex and not just say because people have the urge to have sex so they do it. This topic is also connected to what I am currently learning in school- sexual reproduction. It seems that this urge to have sex for women is also caused by the menstrual cycle of a woman. This research has definitely matured my view on the topic of sex!
Referred to:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libido
Firstly, this sexual drive is affected by minor factors like relationship issues where if the relationship of a man and a woman is not good, the libido for both of them may be low. Also, it is affected by psychological issues like fatigue. It is said that fatigue can decrease a man's sex drive which is caused by factors like illness or even sleep deprived. Psychological issues also cover experience of sexual assault or abuse which leads to the mindset of a person resist sex.
However, the key point on why women have the urge to have sex, lies in the testosterone and menstrual cycle of the woman. Several days before ovulation, it is said that a woman will experience a heightened sexual desire. This cycle has also been associated with changes in a woman's testosterone levels during the menstrual cycle. According to a health journalist,Gabrielle Lichterman, testosterone levels have a direct impact on the sexual drive of a woman as it rise on around the 24th day of a woman's menstrual cycle until ovulation on around the 14th day of the next cycle. Coincidentally, she says that the woman's desire for sex increase consistently during this particular period of time. After ovulation, the testosterone level is the lowest causing women to experience less interest in sex. During this period of time, progesterone levels also increase, resulting in a woman experiencing difficulty achieving orgasm. Although the last days of the menstrual cycle have a constant testosterone level, a woman's sexual drive may increase due to the thickening of the uterine lining which stimulates nerve endings and makes a woman feel aroused.
Reflections:
I decided to do a research on this topic as I feel that many teenagers are always doing the "wrong" thing, engaging in underage sex and this issue seemed to worsen every year. I wonder what causes human beings to want to have this urge to have sex and thus did a detailed research on this topic. Based on my findings, it seems that this sexual drive occurs due to many reasons and it has definitely raised my knowledge on the issue of sex and not just say because people have the urge to have sex so they do it. This topic is also connected to what I am currently learning in school- sexual reproduction. It seems that this urge to have sex for women is also caused by the menstrual cycle of a woman. This research has definitely matured my view on the topic of sex!
Referred to:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libido
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