Hope for Cure of H.I.V.

A disease that no one wants.  One that can rip you apart and tear you into pieces by making one stupid decision. Doctors have been searching for a cure ever since the first case. Until recently, the possibility for HIV/AIDS seemed more or less wishful thinking. But two patients experiences have changed doctors mind.

It is clear that doctors mind-sets have changed over the years on this topic. It says in the article “New Hope for a Cure for H.I.V.” from New York Times, that “There were attempts in the past to cure the disease, but most experts thought it more feasible to focus on prevention and treatment.”  But doctors have backed off a little bit on finding a cure considering that antiviral drugs have turned the H.I.V. infection from a near-certain death sentence to a chronic disease. I don't think that taking drugs everyday of your life is a great way to live compared to the alternative, but doctors are saying that they don't have the resources to get this drug out to the tens of million people infected. Which leaves the only other option, finding a cure.

Recently, a 50- year old man went through a gene therapy procedure. “While he was not cured, his body was able to briefly control the virus after he stopped taking the usual antiviral drugs, something that is highly unusual. Although it was not a cure, it lead doctors to new research. They looked at this disease in a new way, one that may have been abstract. Doctors still can't imagine or understand about the possibility of them thinking they can do it. It hasn't been done before. But everything had to be done for a first time.

Hope for a cure was raised by the experience of an American man named Timothy Brown , who was getting two bone marrow transplants to treat his leukemia. “The donor was among the 1 percent of Northern Europeans naturally resistant to H.I.V. infection because they lack CCR5, a protein on the surface of immune cells that the virus uses as an entry portal.” When his own immune system replaced by one resistant to the infection, Timothy Brown was able to live 4 years free of the virus. But bone marrow transplant is really risky and expensive, and  finding "immunologically matching donor, let alone one with mutations in both copies of the CCR5 gene." So doctors have been inspired to modify the patients own immune cells to make them resistant to the infection by elimination CCR5.

Everything started at some point. Everything in the world started at one particular moment and hasn't stopped since, weather it be yesterday or 10 million years ago. Things may have evolved and gotten better, but they are essentially the same. The clock hasn't started ticking yet for this virus, but the starting whistle is just about to be blown.

Healthy Water Makes Healthy Marine Life

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/08/us/deaths-of-manatees-dolphins-and-pelicans-point-to-estuary-at-risk.html (link to article)

The article “Deaths of Manatees, Dolphins and Pelicans Point to Estuary at Risk” by Michael Wines can be found in The New York Times and was published on August 7, 2013.

There has been a startling amount of deaths of marine in Florida's waters. It is feared that these under water environments are crumbling under the strain of years of pollution caused by Florida's 

rapid development. Brevard, on the Banana river,  is a focus of this development because of it’s 

many motels lining the beach, canal front tract homes, and even a golf course in the middle of the Banana river. Because of all of these attractions the bodies of water off Brevard are at a higher risk of pollution.

As said in the article “Death of Manatees, Dolphins and Pelicans Point to Estuary at Risk”, “Surveys in 2011 and 2012 by the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University concluded that estuary waters off Brevard contained 45 percent more nitrogen than is acceptable” It is devastating to hear that these large numbers of pollutants are in Florida's waters and it is because of Florida's development. This polluted water needs to be cleaned up so marine life can have a healthy environment. The source of this nitrogen is not definite but it is hypothesized that it came from sewage.

Algal Bloom

An estimated 100,000 septic tanks were put in during the expansion of Brevard. If a sewage pipe leaks it can release nutrients into the water, nitrogen. So, because of the increase in the number of septic tanks the amount of nitrogen released into Brevard’s bodies of water increases. Another big contributor to the high amounts of nitrogen in the water is from fertilizer (which is high in nutrients) runoff. As I stated above, there is a golf course in the middle of the Banana river. Golf courses are very big users of fertilizers because they want to keep their grass growing and looking good. This fertilizer makes the grass look good but not the river. When it rains this fertilizer is washed away, right into the river adding the the nitrogen in the water.

Tiny organisms called phytoplankton use this nitrogen in the water to photosynthesize, creating food(energy). There is so much nitrogen in the water and the phytoplankton continue to use this nitrogen so the phytoplankton grows rapidly. This rapid growth of phytoplankton is called an algal bloom. Experts suggest that heavy rainfall in 2011 caused the algal blooms in Florida's waters. This is because more rainfall means more runoff water that will carry nitrogen into the bodies of water.

These algal blooms can be harmful to the other organisms in this ecosystem. The phytoplankton need to perform photosynthesis in order obtain energy because they are autotrophs, meaning they make their own food. Large amounts of oxygen is being taken from the water because so many phytoplankton are performing photosynthesis. The oxygen is the water is being depleted and this can 

result in hypoxia, meaning there is low levels of oxygen in the water, or anoxia, meaning there is no oxygen in the water. This means that other organisms like fish do not get the necessary oxygen they need to survive.

Now, you might ask what this has to do with the deaths of manatees, dolphins, and pelicans. Scientists studying these deaths say they are puzzling. One of the best clues to this puzzle is the seaweed that replaced the sea grass of the body of water. The manatees seemed to be in good health when they died. But the scientists found out that, as said in the article, “The sole exception was their intestines, which showed evidence of severe shock or irritation. Autopsies showed that the stomachs of all three manatees were filled with macroalgae, mostly a fanlike seaweed called gracilaria.” They concluded that this macroalgae played a role in the deaths of these manatees. Although the reason they died is not definite yet the scientists are on their way to figuring out this marine life mystery.

It is very plausible that the reason for the sea grasses replacement by seaweed was because the seaweed flourished because of the large amounts of nitrogen in the water (like the phytoplankton). The seaweed might have flourished more that the sea grass and the seaweed seized control of resources in the water and left the seagrass with not enough to survive. When the manatees ate the gracilaria (fanlike seaweed) their intestines were irritated by this new food.

It is also logical that the dolphins and pelicans died because the fish were not getting enough oxygen (because the phytoplankton was using it up in photosynthesis) and were dying off. This leaves the dolphins and pelicans with not enough food and they will die off as well.

Dolphin in Banana River

Previously in biology class we learned about how runoff water and sewage pipes can cause nitrogen to get into bodies of water. Also how this nitrogen can cause lots of problems, like algal blooms and hypoxia. This article is a great real life example of the problems nitrogen in the water causes.

I believe that this is an important topic that should be recognized and changed. When I went to Florida over vacation last year I went on a dolphin tour and saw lots of dolphins in their natural habitat. I would like future generations to have the opportunity to have that experiences but in order for that to happen we need to cleaned up bodies of water in order to keep precious marine animals happy and healthy.   

Photo citations:  1. http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/banana/

2.  http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/A/AE_algal_bloom.html

3. ww.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34145-d2055825-Reviews-Wild_Side_Tours-Cocoa_Beach_Florida.html

Could breathing kill you?

  Link to the article

   In China pollution levels have reached extreme levels because of their extremely fast economic growth.  The levels of air pollution in China are the cause of factories. In the article ”China’s Plan to Curb Air Pollution Sets Limits on Coal Use and Vehicles” in The New York Times written by Edward Wong  he writes about the increasing deaths in China because of pollution. This article was written in September recently after Chinas pollution had reached 40 times exposure limit recommended by the World Health Organization. They wrote” Ambient air pollution alone is blamed for hundreds of thousands of deaths each year”. This show that China's economic growth and increase in pollution is deadly because just breathing the air can kill you.

    The problem with pollution in China has reached extreme levels and should be brought down as soon as possible. One thing that had shocked me from the article was that in 2010 Chinas air caused about 1.2 million pre mature deaths. Also citizens in china have to deal with choking smog and high amounts of toxins that can deeply penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream and causing diseases. Now in China it is not uncommon to see someone walking around with a mask to help filter out the toxins in the air. Also many parents are starting to choose schools based on air filtration systems just to keep their kids safe from the pollution. Could you ever imagine having to constantly were a mask just so you could breathe safely? Lastly even if China met their goal to reduce the pollution levels will still be 2.5 times the amount recommended by the world Health Organization. In China it is unbelievable that pollution could reach a level that it is at.

     Pollution is not only a problem in China. In class we have learned that in America there is increased anoxia and hypoxia in environments due to run offs of fertilizers. These things cause algae blooms to form and bacteria have to decompose the large amounts of dead algae using large amounts oxygen in our waters and creating areas with anoxia and hypoxia. These issues may not have a direct impact on humans but these problems can cause many fish to die which is a major source of food in America. This might not be as big as the problem in China but it is still a major environmental issue that should be reduced in the U.S.  Both China and America have environmental issues that are being dealt with quickly.

     I could never imagine having to wear a mask just to go outside and be safe or to not be able to take a breath of fresh air. This is something the people in China will never get to do unless they stop the burning of fossil fuels and the large amount of economic growth that is causing it. The pollution is causing many deaths every year and it will keep increasing for a while. The pollution in China is a major problem and it should be reduced very soon because it can cause many problems to the citizens.

Electric Cars, Yea or Nay?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/13/business/energy-environment/electric-cars-give-rise-to-a-recharging-industry.html?_r=1&

Have you ever seen anyone driving an electric car? Do you own one yourself? In the article A Recharging Industry Rises by MATTHEW L. WALD it talks about how electric cars and hybrids are becoming more common.  This article was published November 12, 2013 so it is fairly recent.  

Electric cars as you can assume are powered by electricity not Gasoline.  Also there are gasoline-electric hybrid cars. They are just what it sounds like, a cross between a gasoline-powered car and an electric car.

This article talks a lot about the ways to charge the batteries that make the cars run.  There are at least four ways to go about this. The first option is a regular 120-volt wall charger. This is the same one that you plug your alarm clock into. The second option is a 240- volt wall charger that will charge it a lot faster, but will cost a few thousand dollars. The third option is renting a parking space that has electricity. Finally the fourth and most expensive option is to use a 30,000 dollar super fast public charger, that will take only minutes! By showing the many charging opportunities the owners have the more electric cars they are going to sell.

The charging business is starting to blow up.  Two main companies that work with chargers are CarCharging and ChargePoint. CarCharging owns machines and give landlords a cut of their prophets.  ChargePoint sells machines and allows owner to decide how to distribute power.  Many parking lots are buying machines from ChargePoint because not only can they charge for parking but they can charge for charging the cars.

One thing that this article does not mention is where the electricity comes from.  Most often electricity is made by power plants that burn fuels like coal. Although some is created by wind mills, nuclear power plants, solar fields and some others. But, the most common way is by burning fuels.  Isn’t the main reason that electric cars were made was to not burn fuels? The worst part is that a lot of energy is wasted getting it from the power plants to the outlets in your house.

In my opinion electric cars can be good or bad it really depends on your lifestyle. If you are traveling many miles each day than than a fuel efficient car might be the best because electric cars will not be able to drive far enough.  But if you only drive short amounts each day then you might think about an electric car. If price is a problem for you than a non-electric car might be better because they are cheaper.  Finally some people might not chose a electric car because of how they look.  All electric cars do not look like Priuses. For example a company called Tesla makes many cool looking cars that run just like a Prius.

A Tesla all electric car

A Ford Fusion Hybrid

Small Threats on Big Lakes

http://www.treehugger.com/clean-water/3-companies-commit-removing-plastic-beads-their-body-products.html

           In the article Scientists Turn Their Gaze Toward Tiny Threats to Great Lakes from The New York Times, John Schwartz talks about how tiny pieces of plastic can effect our environment and us.

Everyday millions of people get ready for their day by using different toiletries like face washes or toothpaste. What we don't know is that minute plastic beads are going through water treatment plants and into the Great Lakes. Fish and other aquatic animals eat them. Some fish may mistake them for fish food. The fish don't just eat the beads, but also the other pollutants on them. 

Plastic becomes covered in cancer-causing chemicals like PCBs. This is a concern because if people drink this water or consume any aquatic animals, they could also be drinking PCBs. 

Companies like Johnson and Johnson have decided to use natural alternatives instead of beads in their products. Johnson and Johnson stated "Our goal is to give consumers peace of mind that our products are gentle on people and gentle on the environment." Their goal is to make their products safe for humans and the fish that live throughout these Great Lakes. 

Doctor Mason, an environmental chemist at the New York State University, collected over 100 samples to look for beads and other debris. She found from her samples that beads make up more than 60% of the samples. 

Other scientists still believe this could link back to humans. Millions of pounds of fish are caught from Great Lakes yearly. They have found beads in the fish they catch, which means those poisons from the beads could end up in the body of the consumer. 

When reading this article it reminded me about when my biology class learned about how fertilizers pollute waterways. When it polluted the water it also hurt many fish. I can also connect this to my own life experiences. In the summer I go to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. In some parts of the lake you can see how polluted it is. Sometimes you can even see dead fish floating around. 

My opinion on this topic is that it must be fixed. I agree with the Johnson and Johnson companies decision to change their products to natural substances. This change to their products could save the aquatic life from PCBs. I also think this pollution needs to be fixed for human health. It stated in the article that millions of pounds of fish are caught from Great Lakes. If we are eating there fish it could cause us to get the PCBs and get very sick. 

The Air is Killing Us and Our Surroundings

Air pollution is a big factor to people's everyday lives. In the article Air Pollution as a Heart Threat

in the New York Times by Deborah Blum published November 15th, 2013 she talks about how air pollution is threatening human health.

Air pollution is killing our cardiovascular system and we need to start helping our environment out to put a stop to this or decrease the chances of severely hurting our cardiovascular system. Scientist Dr.Adar tells us that the reason why our cardiovascular systems are dying.

Dr. Adar tells us that people’s cardiovascular systems are dying because "there are fine particulates adrift in the cloud of unfriendly gases shrouding many of our communities."These particulates adrift in the cloud of the gases can penetrate deep into the lungs and soon after embedding into the tissue of one's body and sets off a cascade of inflammatory effects. Eventually this would reach the circulatory system.

Many things we do every day we would never suspect they could lead to heart disease. Something as little as driving your car can lead to heart disease. The exhaust from your vehicle is harmful to humans that drive them and are near them.

Dr. Joel D. Kaufman, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington in Seattle states "There’s increasing evidence that there’s something about traffic-related pollution in particular." People who are stuck in traffic all the time getting to and from work everyday have a greater chance of having heart disease.

Depending on what type of vehicle you drive can increase your risk. People who drive smaller vehicles will penetrate deeper into the body. This is a big medical issue for many people and our environment. If we can all reduce our vehicle use then this horrible cloud particle will soon go away.

This relates to what we were doing in class with the cardiovascular system. Our heart is a very important part of our body and keeps us alive everyday. In honors biology class we learned about how coronary heart disease occurs and how to cure it if you do end up getting it.

 

Not only does air pollution effect people it also effects other organisms around us.many animals habitats are being destroyed by this. The pollution is very bad for the water that the animals drink and therfore they will become sick.

I wanted to write about this article because I am very interested in the heart and it is very interesting to know that if we all work together we can put this pollution to an end and be healthy. Pollution is really hurting our human health and the environment around us.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/15/an-airborne-heart-threat/?_r=0

High Temperatures Hand In Hand With High Tempers

http://www.newsela.com/articles/climate-violence/id/748/

The article "Global warming could cause more wars, a study forecasts" by the Los Angeles Times, adapted by Newsela staff was written on August 5, 2013 and can be found on the Newsela website under the science section.  (As I learned about this new study, I read part of the actual recordings of information, where I connected it back to this article about the findings.  Everything quoted was from the original findings.)

Global warming is a very hot topic.  The thing that people rarely connect with climate change, is how us humans will respond to it.  Researchers have looked very closely on weather, economics, political science, as well as the human mind to form this idea and have come to the conclusion that as temperatures get higher, peoples tempers get higher as well.

Investigators of this study stated, "'We find strong causal evidence linking climatic events to human conflict ... across all major regions of the world,'"

When the researchers say this, they have done many tests to prove that when temperatures rise, it brings out the worst in people.  For example, investigators in Phoenix held traffic up and observed to see if people in cars without air conditioning were more likely to beep in anger to the vehicles with air conditioning.  After experiments like this and many others, they calculated personal violence could increase 8 to 16 percent.  There has been strong evidence that global warming and climate temperature rises can affect human behavior. 

Some of these temperature changes also changes agriculture, which decreases food source and hurts the economy because of increased food prices and less availability.  This plays a significant roll in the increase of violence around the world. 

Farming is a big part of economy, and without water and the right weather, many crops will not be able to grow.  In class, we learned how trees died when they got little rainfall and lived in very dry, hot places.  Although trees are not part of agriculture, this stands for all plants, and with a decrease in agriculture, the economy would drop resulting in violence.  I too can get aggravated when I am over heated, so I can relate to this theory.

Although there is thorough evidence supporting this theory, many people do not think global warming has an affect on the world wide increase of violence.  Halvard Buhaug, a professor in political science says,"'The study does not give a single example of a real conflict'".  This idea is one that could be a big eye-opener for many people, however there needs to be more experiments and research to back up this theory.  If more professors rose to this challenge, they could find more evidence of this theory.  

This is a very strong argument, and after a little further investigation, it could definitely make people think deeper about global warming.  This makes me wonder how far they could take this research.  What kinds of weather causes personal violence rather than wars and large scale group conflicts?  This article made me think about another side of global warming, and how it has a physiological impact as well.