Every Day is Earth Day at Banting - conserve water and energy, reduce pollution and reduce climate change!
Monday, May 31, 2021
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
Snow II Lawren Harris
This is the piece of artwork that I have chosen to critique. This painting is called Snow II, painted in 1915 by Lawren S. Harris who was a member of the Group of 7. He was a landscape painter and painted Canadian landscapes. Lawren S. Harris participated in the following art periods, Abstract Art and Art Nouveau He went to the University of Toronto as well as St Andrew’s College Technician school. He was born in 1885 in Brantford Ontario and died in 1970 in Vancouver. The Group of Seven was a group of Canadian artists that was created in the 1900s. Each member explored a variety of different techniques and now today influence other artists. During this time period, Harris was influenced by early modernism in Europe, including Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. This painting above Snow II is beautiful. It outlines Canada’s winters and represents what it looks like here. Lawren uses texture, colour, shape, value as well as line, and all these elements of art contribute to harmony, proportion. I can see movement with the texture that was added. I know I’m supposed to critique this artwork but I don’t think artwork should be critiqued because every piece of art is special in its own way and was the way it was done for a reason even if it doesn’t make sense. One thing I do notice in this painting is the trees in the background that are golden or golden brown which isn’t very realistic along with the sky colour. I think he could have made it more realistic but again I think it was done this way for a reason and I don’t think it should be critiqued.
Saturday, May 15, 2021
Waste Reduction Brainstorming Template Developed During Waste Reduction Week Oct 19-25
This template was created and used to promote discussion through the fall at Banting on How to Reduce Waste.
Here is the link to Waste Reduction Week in Canada Oct 19-25, 2020
Friday, May 14, 2021
What kinds of personalized medicines have they developed to fight Covid-19 (testing and treatment)? What challenges did they have developing personalized medicine
The coronavirus genome has mutated hundreds of times since last December, however most mutations have had very little to no effect (called silent mutations) at all on reproduction and mortality rate. Recently, variants involving changes to the spike protein have emerged from South Africa (501Y.V2), the UK (B117) and Brazil (P.1). All of the variant strains have the genome mutation N501Y which makes them more contagious as well as the mutation E484K which causes a change in the spike protein. In Canada some cases of the UK variant have been found due to community spread, and it is predicted that the variant will completely replace the original coronavirus strain by March 2021 due to it being over 50% more contagious. It was shown that people who contracted the new UK strain were more likely to have to have symptoms of fever, fatigue/ weakness as well as a cough. For the UK virus strain it is also predicted that the number of deaths of people in their 60s could rise from 10 per 1 000 to 13/14 per thousand people.
People can contract the new variant after having had the original coronavirus strain, as the memory B cells in the immune system are unable to recognize the new spike protein. The vaccine may provide some immunity as the variant strains have mutated a certain part of the spike protein and antibodies developed by the vaccine will be able to recognize the rest of the spike protein that was not mutated. It’s thought that people who contract the new strain after being given the vaccine will have a milder case of the virus. Currently in Canada, the UK variant is in the process of taking over other strains as over half of new cases are of that variant. There is also concern over the new variant ‘The Indian variant’ (B.1.617) and has been found here in Ottawa.
References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djy3WNLz_mM&t=29s
“What Are Covid Variants – and
Should We Be Worried?” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 5 Feb.
2021, www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/05/what-are-covid-variants-and-should-we-be-worried
Mahase, Elisabeth. “Covid-19: What
New Variants Are Emerging and How Are They Being Investigated?” The BMJ,
British Medical Journal Publishing Group, 18 Jan. 2021, www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n158.full
How does the mRNA technology based coronavirus vaccines work? What is the role of getting two doses of the vaccine in developing immunity?
MRNA vaccines against the coronavirus include those developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. MRNA vaccines have been in development for the last thirty years however before the development of the coronavirus vaccine, no other mRNA vaccines had been approved for usage. MRNA vaccines involve using a piece of RNA to code for the spike proteins of the virus, once in the body of the person infected, compared to conventional vaccines which use weakened or inactive parts of the virus to trigger an immune response. The mRNA enters into the body in lipid nanoparticles particles (LNPs) which protect the mRNA from being broken down and destroyed by enzymes in the body. Once the LNPs containing the mRNA reach the cell, the mRNA is released into the cell and the ribosomes can code for amino acids that form the spike proteins which are the proteins on the outside of the virus that attach to receptors (like angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) to infect cells. Once the spike proteins enter into the body an immune response is triggered and the immune system behaves as if the virus has been entered into the body by releasing antibodies to fight the ‘virus’. The response helps train B-cells to become memory B-cells creating an adaptive immune response which makes the antibodies able to identify and immediately kill the virus if later infected.
References:
Author InformationARTICLE SECTIONSJump ToCorresponding
AuthorsSteven N. Fiering - GeiselSchool of Medicine, et al. “COVID-19 Vaccine
Frontrunners and Their Nanotechnology Design.” ACS Nano, https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsnano.0c07197
How does vitamin C prevent Covid-19 patients from developing a cytokine storm and help them fight Covid-19?
Individuals can develop a cytokine storm when they are infected with Covid-19. A cytokine storm caused by Covid-19 happens when there is a large influx in killer T cells many different types of T cells due to the response from the immune system however not all T cells are able to fight the virus. Due to some not being able to destroy the virus, they continuously build up in the vascular system and make it harder for oxygen to be transported to important organs due to their being a lower concentration of red blood cells that carry oxygen in the blood. This causes vascular hyperpermeability (the leakage of fluid and proteins from the blood into interstitial space between lung cells and the capillaries), multiorgan failure, and death.
Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin that cannot be synthesized by the body, it acts by lowering the amount of interleukin-6 in the blood which decreases inflammation which is directly related to the severity of the cytokine storm. Although extreme vitamin C deficiency is rare, people can be a little bit deficient which results in impaired immunity higher susceptibility to infections. Vitamin C also helps facilitate apoptosis which clears dead or deformed cells, patients with Covid-19 can sometimes die due to a buildup of dead cells.
People can increase their intake of vitamin C by eating more fresh oranges and peppers as well as taking supplements.
References:
Velazquez-Salinas, Lauro, et al. “The
Role of Interleukin 6 During Viral Infections.” Frontiers, Frontiers, 26
Apr. 2019, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01057/full
Tang, Yujun, et al. “Cytokine Storm in
COVID-19: The Current Evidence and Treatment Strategies.” Frontiers in
Immunology, Frontiers Media S.A., 10 July 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7365923/
01, Sarah BradleyUpdated May, and
Sarah Bradley. “This Is Why Some Patients Get so Sick With COVID-19 and Others
Don't.” Health.com, www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/cytokine-storm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXULPNF6cTI&t=1187s
Thursday, May 13, 2021
How to Post to the blog Banting Green Science and the Environment Plus
How to Post to the blog Banting Green Science and the Environment Plus
Monday, May 10, 2021
How does Covid-19 cause damage to the heart and cardiovascular system? What kinds of problems do these individuals face and what problems could they face in the future?
The Covid-19 virus can infect cells all over the body resulting in inflammation, including organs such as the lungs. ACE2 (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2) is a receptor that is used by the covid-19 virus to infect the cells using the spike protein. ACE2s are highly prevalent in the heart. Once people have had heart cells infected by the coronavirus, inflammation can occur in the heart cells and result in a myocardial injury (permeant damage to heart tissue). Individuals who have heart problems are more likely to get a more severe case of Covid-19. Thousands of patients have died from the virus directly due to cardiovascular inflammation and damage. Also, if the coronavirus infection gets severe it can damage the lungs and result in less oxygen going to other organs such as the heart, causing them to not work properly. Individuals who test positive for the virus are at a greater risk of getting a stroke or heart attack after recovering from Covid-19. This might make it harder for them to get health insurance and travel to other countries.
The coronavirus can also affect the lining of blood vessels called the endothelium, which in healthy blood vessels allows some substances to move through them while blocking others. The endothelium also prevents blood clots and inflammation. Due to ACE2 receptors in the endothelium, the virus can bind to these cells and causes blood clotting and leaky blood vessels. This has lead do damage in the blood-brain barrier which prevents unwanted chemicals or substances from entering the brain and has led people to develop neurological problems. It has also lead to people developing rashes such as ‘covid toe’ due to poor circulation to that area of the body.
References:
Zheng, Ying-Ying, et al. “COVID-19 and the Cardiovascular System.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 5 Mar. 2020, www.nature.com/articles/s41569-020-0360-5?fbclid=IwAR3TjvxiEtYQqNkpsPuEuuef94Gp2m4a89YFxubY2pw2FtOxsSpxGZ18Tml
British Heart Foundation. How
Does Coronavirus Affect Your Heart?, British Heart Foundation, 5 Oct. 2021,
www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health/what-does-coronavirus-do-to-your-body
What effect does taking vitamin D have on fighting Covid-19? What societal and economic impacts would there be if people took vitamin D supplements?
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is synthesized through UV radiation from the sun, and ingested through fish and fish oil as well as supplements. Among other functions such as promoting bone health, it also helps to regulate the immune system. There is growing evidence that shows lower levels of vitamin D in people’s blood streams are associated with worse outcomes of Covid-19. For example an individual with lower vitamin D levels has a greater chance of having a symptomatic case, ending up in hospital in intensive care unit (ICU) and dying from Covid-19. In a study in based India of 154 people with Covid-19, 63 patients ended up in ICU, 61 had vitamin-D levels <20 ng/ml and only 2 in ICU had levels >20 ng/ ml. The study also found that of the people with normal vitamin D levels 3.1 % died however 21.8% of people with low vitamin D levels died.
In society individuals with darker skin have a more difficult time synthesizing vitamin D from the sun. People who are overweight or obese have a more difficult time keeping their vitamin D levels high as the vitamin is fat soluble. If people increased their intake of vitamin D supplements as a preventative for Covid-19, especially those who have lower levels it would take pressure off hospitals and would allow them to save money. The government in the UK has also decided to give 2.5 million people – those who are vulnerable to low vitamin D such as seniors in long term care homes who don’t get outside often – this winter starting in January. The amount being given of 400 IU is far under the daily recommendation of most doctors as many doctors now believe it to be between 4000-6000 IU/ day.
References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha2mLz-Xdpg
“Covid: Free Vitamin D Pills for 2.5 Million Vulnerable in England.” BBC News, BBC, 28 Nov. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/health-55108613#:~:text=More%20than%202.5%20million%20vulnerable,extremely%20vulnerable%2C%20and%20care%20homes
How does ventilation contribute to the buildup of COVID-19 aerosols? What methods help stop the spread of aerosols?
Although at the start of the coronavirus outbreak there was general consensus among public health doctors that COVID-19 was mainly spread though droplets from person to person, there is now growing consensus that COVID-19 is mostly spread by aerosols. Aerosols are very small particles that can linger in the air for many hours. They are 50 microns in size, with particles of COVID-19 being 0.1 microns in diameter and many particles able to fit onto aerosols. It has been shown that indoor gatherings where someone is infected with coronavirus are more likely to cause a larger outbreak than gatherings outside with the infected person or people outside. This is due to the ability for aerosols to disperse out of the area where the people are gathered.
Ventilation is the process of moving outdoor into indoor
spaces. Most hospitals have very good ventilation which means that the exchange
from the outside to inside air is frequent and the vents where this occurs is
evenly spread out around the area.
-A study from Nebraska USA showed that 63% of air samples
were positive in hospital patients’ rooms and in hallways
-Even with the use of good ventilation social distancing and
PPE should still be used
-Appropriate distribution of vents (supply and exhaust)
ensures that adequate dilution is achieved
-The airborne particle of covid-19 has a half-life of more
than one hour energy consumption concerns (not wanting to waste heat) or if it
is an older building, people can install filters that will help to filter the
aerosols containing covid-19.
-Ultraviolet radiation can be used to deactivate potential virus contaminated air as it leaves the building to prevent it from coming back in.
References:
Jimenez, Jose-Luis. “COVID-19 Is
Transmitted Through Aerosols. We Need to Adapt.” Time, Time, 25 Aug.
2020, https://time.com/5883081/covid-19-transmitted-aerosols/
What public health measures did New Zealand implement to completely eliminate community spread of Covid-19?
New Zealand (NZ) is globally known for its effective efforts that completely eliminated Covid-19 for several months. While most countries in Europe and North America in early March sought to mitigate the virus (prevent a large and rapid uptick in cases and overwhelm the healthcare system), NZ sought to completely eliminate it which means zero community transmission. The decision to do so was partly due to their concern of how the virus could devastate the Maori indigenous population which accounts for 17% of the population. NZ was also concerned about how their response would affect the Pacific Islands as these island nations are poorer and have less infrastructure to control outbreaks of diseases. Between September to December 2019 an outbreak of measles occurred on the island nation of Samoa due to an infected New Zealander traveling to the island. The outbreak resulted in over 5000 cases and 83 deaths.
Despite NZ only having 100 active cases, in mid-March they implemented the strictest lockdown (level 4) where ground travel between areas was severely restricted and boarders were closed to all non-nationals. People were told to only leave their homes for essential purposes like buying groceries. The stay at home order remained in place for a total of 7 weeks until late May, and by late July 2020, they had had several months of zero Covid-19 cases. It’s clear that the lockdown greatly helped stop community spread because by late May when the lockdown was being lifted 72% of the total Covid-19 cases were linked to international travel. Today New Zealanders have almost completely returned to how life was like before the pandemic. They are able to attend mass gatherings, such as weddings, without having to socially distance or wear masks.
References:
Baker, Michael G, et al. “New
Zealand's COVID-19 Elimination Strategy.” The Medical Journal of Australia,
John Wiley and Sons Inc., Sept. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7436486/
L. J. Abu-Raddad and Others, et al. “Successful Elimination of Covid-19 Transmission in New Zealand: NEJM.” New England Journal of Medicine, 5 May 2021, www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2025203
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2516602620932558
Friday, May 7, 2021
TREES WITH A PURPOSE
Hey guys its maranda *walks in, slips and falls then gets up* so lets act like that definitely didn't happen lol OK so i just wanted to post this poem about our environment and how we should be grateful for our trees and plants.
A tree is like a person
Why i say that is because we are alike
We have feelings we have names we have thoughts
We feel pain, we have pain
They feel pain when a part of them breaks or snaps
Just like all of us do
We feel the same emotions as they do
Like when someone says something or even does something
It hurts, it hurts them, it hurts us
Trees do what they have to do to survive
Just like us
We need food, water, sunlight, and air
They need the same things we do
But did you know that trees, plants, and living things
They’re teachers
They’re teachers because they know what needs to be done
When it comes to climate change
And other problems we have in the world
But did you also know
Without plants, we would not survive we wouldn't even get to see another day
Because plants have everything we need to survive
Knowing now that plants and trees are everything
We need to always give thanks to the living things that provide for us to survive
xoxo - maranda
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