fmillanaj's blog

Some things I noticed that either make a poster better or decrease its quality:

• Adding too much information on the poster. I think this really distracts the reader and steers them away from important information. 
• The organization is one of the most important traits for a poster. 
• There are usually symbols that let the viewer know what affiliation the author has (university, company, etc…)
• Pictures are important if they are relevant to the poster content.
• I noticed that the design of the posters matters a lot more than I thought. 

A-site: the ribosomal site most frequently occupied by aminoacyl-tRNA. The aminoacyl-tRNA in the A-site functions as the acceptor for the growing protein during peptide bond formation.P-site: the ribosomal site most frequently occupied by peptidyl-tRNA, i.e. the tRNA carrying the growing peptide chain. The P-site is also referred to as the puromycin-sensitive site. Puromycin is an antibiotic which shows similarities with a part of aminoacyl-tRNA. When puromycin is present in the A-site, the peptide can be linked to puromycin via a peptide bond. Thus, peptidyl-tRNA in the P-site is located in the puromycin-sensitive site. E-site: the ribosomal site harbouring deacylated tRNA on transit out from the ribosome.

    Spider webs are extremely thin, the largest silk fibers being only 5-10 μm. Some can be as thin as only 50 nm, making spider webs very difficult to measure. We found a publication that explains the use of light microscopy to accurately and precisely measure the width of spider webs. Webs are extremely strong, comparable to steel and also super flexible. However, because of the microscopic size, the different principles of silk have not been greatly investigated. In this review they used a polarized light microscope to illuminate the spider webs and images were taken that were then used for comparisons and measurements.

To determine the relationship between spider weight and spider web thickness, 3 different species of spiders of different sizes will be collected from various sites around campus. We will collect 2 spiders in each species. The spiders will be weighed on analytical scales and will be sorted based on weight. They will then be placed in separate containers  and will be allowed to spin out spider silk.The spiders will be left in their containers to make a web for 5 days. We will feed them 1 fruit fly each day. We will remove the web with tweezers and place onto a microscope slide. The silk will be fixed onto microscope slides using distilled water as a buffer. The silk will be observed under a microscope at 40x magnification and be characterized based on size, using a stage micrometer, and web type. The webs will be sorted based on type, and then subgroups will be made based on size. The data will be analyzed based on the spider species and then the web size will be compared to spider weight to determine if any correlation exists.

The law of definite proportions is a law of science that says that a chemical compound is always made up of the exact same proportion of elements by mass. So, if a compound is made by combining 1/4 from one chemical and the remaining 3/4 from another chemical, these proportions will always hold true, regardless of the number of chemicals added.

Protein is another macronutrient necessary to promote the health of the body. The body’s growth, repairing of cells,  and regulation of the body’s tissues and organs are all essential functions of the protein, therefore adequate amounts of protein in the diet is necessary to the optimal function of the body. My current food intake indicates a relatively steady amount of protein in my diet, at approximately 21 percent of the total calories I consume in one day. Overall, based on the two days of documenting my food intake, the main sources of protein are chicken, eggs, fish, and pork. The fish, unfortunately, was fried with batter, making a great source of protein that comes along with unnecessary amounts of fat, so in future meals I know to choose fish that’s steamed or cooked differently.The chicken is chicken breast and the pork was a lean piece of boneless pork chop, both relatively healthy options of protein, low in fat and sodium showing that the quality of the protein intake is quite well. Although those options of poultry and chicken are great, I could aim to expand my options and include beans, and nuts to obtain all the essential amino acids. Red meats, like beef, are excluded from being categorized as a healthy protein for it is much higher in saturated fats4. Harvard School of Public Health reported that the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease increased with increased consumptions of red meats, supported with evidence from a study that shows the risk of dying from cardiovascular increasing by 13 percent with every additional 3-ounce serving of red meat4.

Protein is another macronutrient necessary to promote the health of the body. The body’s growth, repairing of cells,  and regulation of the body’s tissues and organs are all essential functions of the protein, therefore adequate amounts of protein in the diet is necessary to the optimal function of the body. My current food intake indicates a relatively steady amount of protein in my diet, at approximately 21 percent of the total calories I consume in one day. Overall, based on the two days of documenting my food intake, the main sources of protein are chicken, eggs, fish, and pork. The fish, unfortunately, was fried with batter, making a great source of protein that comes along with unnecessary amounts of fat, so in future meals I know to choose fish that’s steamed or cooked differently.The chicken is chicken breast and the pork was a lean piece of boneless pork chop, both relatively healthy options of protein, low in fat and sodium showing that the quality of the protein intake is quite well. Although those options of poultry and chicken are great, I could aim to expand my options and include beans, and nuts to obtain all the essential amino acids. Red meats, like beef, are excluded from being categorized as a healthy protein for it is much higher in saturated fats4. Harvard School of Public Health reported that the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease increased with increased consumptions of red meats, supported with evidence from a study that shows the risk of dying from cardiovascular increasing by 13 percent with every additional 3-ounce serving of red meat4.

Carbohydrates are an essential part of the diet, for it fuels the body and brain with energy. Although it is essential to obtain a sufficient amount of carbohydrate daily, it is also necessary to be aware of the type and amount of carbohydrates consumed. Overconsumption of carbohydrates can not only lead to weight gain due to increased calories, but also an increased blood sugar. When carbohydrates are broken down in the digestive system it becomes glucose. A diet lacking carbohydrates may also yield detrimental effects. As reported by the International Journal of Obesity, although “protein has a similar energy density to carbohydrate” high intakes of protein in place of carbs has the potential to suppress food intake causing ketosis, where the body does not have enough glucose for energy and utilizes stored fat instead1. Based on the averages of the weekend and the weekday nutrients report approximately 50% of my diet’s calories are from carbohydrates, falling in the acceptable macronutrient distribution range of 45 to 65 percent of the total calories. Although the percentage of my carbohydrate intake is deemed acceptable according to the AMDR the sources of the carbohydrate intake is not necessarily healthy or nutrient dense. Based on my nutrients report half or a little less than half of my total sugar comes from added sugars. According to the American Heart Association, a women should consume no more than 25 grams of added sugar per day3. Keeping in mind that 25 grams is the maximum amount, it is recommended by the World Health Organization that the ideal intake of added sugars is less than 5% of one’s total calories3. In order to decrease the amount of added sugars in my diet I must choose foods that aren’t processed with lots of sugars. Added sugars are defined as any sugars or caloric sweeteners added to foods or beverages during processing or preparation. Instead of choosing to eat Quaker’s Chewy Bar as a snack, I could opt for an apple, orange, or some fruit that provides energy but also more nutrients. Not only do these fruits not contain added sugars like the Quaker’s chewy bar, but a medium-sized apple also contains about 4 grams of dietary fiber in addition to the carbohydrates it supplies. Additionally, instead of using granola as a part of  topping for my yogurt, I could use the original cheerios which is a great whole grain option. In comparison to granola, cheerios are minimal in added sugars, for honey and brown sugar is not used in the production process.

Chloroplasts are green because it contains the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll. This pigment makes the leaves look green, because the pigment absorbs blue and red wavelengths of visible light the most, and green shades the least. Therefore, it reflects mostly the green wavelengths, making it look green. The number of chloroplasts that a plant might contain differs for different types of plant cells (unicellular and plant leaf cells.) it can have as many as 20 to 100.

To begin the muscle contraction cycle, an action potential arrives at the pre-synaptic cells. This causes voltage-gated Calcium channels to open, and acetylcholine to be released. The acetylcholine binds to the receptors on the motor end plate. This opens up the ligand-gated sodium channels, causing the depolarization of the muscle cell and leading to an action potential. The action potential travels down the T-tubules to the sarcoplasmic reticulum. This triggers calcium to be released from the stored vesicles, leading to a contraction.