Friday, 29 April 2016

Question Box Friday: Polyphasic Sleep

Today's question comes from "Unknown aka Anonymous" who asks: "Does sleep still have the same neurological and physiological effects if broken up or slept for a long period of time? For example; if one were to sleep 8 hours straight and an individual were to nap 4 times (each consisting of 2 hours), would they still be impacted the same? Which one would be more beneficial, in terms of resting?"

Check this article, and this site, and this site out and be ready to discuss it partway through class.

Thursday, 28 April 2016

Tuesday, 19 April 2016

Tuesday Morning Funny

Ok, so I originally didn't have a funny to post today and then this happened:

Sarah Palin Attacks Bill Nye's Credibility On Science Issues: At an event in Washington D.C. last week, Sarah Palin tried to discredit Bill Nye while also claiming that climate change wasn't real. “Bill Nye is as much a scientist as I am,” the former Alaskan governor said. “He’s a kids’ show actor; he’s not a scientist.”

Monday, 18 April 2016

Project Pulse Health Sciences Conference

HELLO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!!
Are you interested in pursuing a career in healthcare? Have questions about the health sciences and career opportunities? Not sure want you want to do in university?
Then, you should come to the PROJECT PULSE CALGARY 2016 HEALTH SCIENCES CONFERENCE!
Project Pulse is a student-run non-profit organization that strives to help connect motivated high school students with the world of Health Sciences. Through our Pulse Conference, held annually, we help give students and their families an inside look at various career paths and post-secondary options in this highly lucrative field. At our conference, we have doctors, professors, undergraduates, graduates and various other professionals speak about their personal experiences, and give students insights into a possible career in the Health Sciences. Studies show that 50% of students graduating high school have considered a career in the Health Sciences, and out of these students, nearly three-quarters have unanswered questions. Our goal is to help give them the crucial information they need, and clear any misconceptions they may have about this career path.
After the conference, we will also be having an opportunity fair where organizations such as SHAD and EarlyBird Youth Services will be giving high school students information on volunteering opportunities, summer internships, leadership programs, etc. Here are the details for the conference.
When: April 25th, 2016 from 9.00 am to 3.30pm
Where: Libin Lecture Theatre, University of Calgary Health Sciences Center
You can register for the event by clicking the link below. Please register if you would like to attend the conference.
If you would like to know more about the conference, please visit project-pulse.org
We hope to see you there!!
#findyourpulse
2016 Project Pulse Calgary Executive Team

Weekly Plan: April 18th - April 21st

from xkcd.com
Hello Class, here is the plan for this week:


  • Monday - Discuss differences between primary, secondary, and tertiary research sources. Remainder of class to write draft.
  • Tuesday - Discuss outlining writing. Remainder of class to write draft.
  • Wednesday - Discuss Science writing correctness. Remainder of class to write draft.
  • Tuesday - Full class to write draft. Draft due at end of day.

Monday Morning Funny: Monestary

Mini Assignment: Comparing Readings

from oocities.org
Today we will be comparing a few different ways of writing about science and discoveries.

Please read the following and take note of not WHAT is written, but HOW it's written.

Charles Darwin - The Origin of Species - Chapter 4

Online Biology Textbook - Nerves

Malcom Gladwell - Outliers - Chapter 1

Wednesday, 13 April 2016

Class Plan April 13th

Hello all,

from xkcd.com
Today please begin the class by introducing yourself to the sub. Following that you may resume work on the term paper notes.

The new material today is on two topics: pain assessment and Science writing. Please review the videos and continue work on your Term Paper Notes.

Tomorrow we will go over and do the sensory perception lab.

Video: Science Writing (UBC Science Writing)

Bonus: Wednesday Morning Funny: Heavy Bubbles

Assessing Pain

I've posted some documents that will help you when discussing the questions regarding assessing pain.

Pain Assessment Tool

Clinical Best Practices Guide

Pain Management Theory

Tomorrow we begin the lab report.

Food for Thought: This Much Will Kill You

Tuesday, 12 April 2016

Video: The Homunculus

Video: Lorimer Moseley on the Brain's Role in Perceiving Pain



This video is great evidence for answering some of your questions such as:

  • What are some misconceptions about pain and pain management?(use evidence-based proof to describe the following misconceptions):
    • The importance of clinical opinion versus patient opinion
    • Comparable stimuli produce comparable pain responses in people (thresholds and tolerance levels)
    • People with low pain tolerances should make a greater effort to cope instead of seeking medication or more treatment
    • Absence of physical basis for pain indicates pain does not exist
    • Pain should not be treated until the cause is established

Video: Nocioreceptors

Food For Thought: Knuckle Cracking 'Firework' Flash Imaged By Radiologists | IFLScience


image from commons.wikimedia.org

Monday, 11 April 2016

Monday Morning Funny: Master Ken's Flashy Technique

Advil, and Tylenol

Today's question box question comes from Butterfly. She asks "How do pain medications know where to go? How do they find the pain? How does your brain know that anti-inflammatory meds are entering the system."

To answer this, here are some articles discussing how acetaminophen(Tylenol), acetylsalicylic acid(Asprin) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)

Common Painkillers and their Mechanisms

Tylenol or Asprin

To understand these articles, we need a further understanding of pain:

Physiology of Pain

Videos: Different pain Levels for Different People