What is science? Science is knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws, especially as obtained and tested through scientific method. It is a framework for gaining and organizing this knowledge. However, it is not simply a set of facts but it is also a plan of action – a procedure for processing and understanding certain types of information.
The scientific method is the center of scientific inquiry – the procedure or plan of action. It involves several steps:
1. Making observations – qualitative or quantitative. A quantitative observation may be called a measurement (and involves both a number and a unit).
2. Formulating hypotheses – forming possible explanations for an observation
3. Performing experiments – gathering new information that enables a scientist to decide whether or not the hypotheses is valid – that is, whether it is supported by the new information learned from the experiment. Experiments always produce new observations, bringing the process back to the beginning.
A theory (which is often called a model) is a set of tested hypotheses that gives an overall explanation of some natural phenomenon. An observation is something that is witnessed and can be recorded. A theory is an interpretation – a possible explanation why nature behaves in a particular way. Theories inevitably change as more information becomes available. Theories (models) are human inventions – they represent attempts to explain observed natural behavior in terms of human experiences. It is actually an educated guess. Experiments must continue and refine theories (making them consistent with new knowledge) to approach a more complete understanding of nature.
General laws (or natural laws) are often-seen observations applying to many different systems. As scientists observe nature, such observed behavior is formulated into a statement called a natural law. A law summarizes what happens; a theory (model) is an attempt to explain why it happens.
With a thorough and complete understanding of scientific theory, what types of science are there?
Examples of sciences:
· Biology
· Chemistry
· Physics
· Anatomy
· Physiology
· Botany
· Pathology
· Neurology
· Toxicology
· Ecology
· Gastroenterology
· Ichthyology
· Ornithology
· Herpetology
· Mycology
· Hematology
· Meteorology
· Geology
· Geography
· Oceanography
· Thermodynamics
· Zoology
· Epidemiology
This is only lists of mostly Natural Sciences. Many other sciences exist including those of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Social Science (such as anthropology, economics, political science, philosophy, and sociology).
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
BLOG 01
LAMICTAL® (lah-MICK-tall) Tablets are a medicine prescribed together with other medications to treat certain types of seizures (partial seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, generalized seizures of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome) in people 2 years of age or older. LAMICTAL® may be prescribed alone while transitioning between different prescriptions to treat partial seizures in patients 16 years of age or older. It may also be for the long-term treatment of Bipolar I Disorder to lengthen the time between mood episodes in people 18 years of age or older (who have been treated for mood episodes with other medicine). LAMICTAL® - manufactured by United Kingdom-based GlaxoSmithKline – the active ingredient is lamotrigine. It is available in 25 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg tablets (to be swallowed whole or split, but never chewed or crushed). In addition, LAMICTAL® ODT Orally Disintegrating tablets forms are the same dosages as above excluding 150 mg tablets (which should be placed on the tongue to rapidly dissolve). LAMICTAL® Chewable Dispersible tablets are available in 2 mg, 5 mg, and 25 mg (which may be swallowed whole, chewed or crushed, or mixed with water or dilute fruit juice).
As with any medication there are side-effects. These include (but not limited to) dizziness, headache, blurred or double vision, lack of coordination, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, tremor, rash, fever, abdominal pain, back pain, tiredness, and dry mouth.
The skin rash can be life threatening, and it is recommended that patients new to taking LAMICTAL® or similar lamotrigine products should start treatment on a low dosage (dependant on the weight of the patient) for one week and increase the number of milligrams in 25 mg. values per two days thereafter. Observations of rashes usually occurred within the first six weeks of lamotrigine treatment.
Most of the above forms of lamotrigine had been formulated over 10 years ago. The patent on prescription medications (approved by the Food and Drug Administration) is valid for 20 years before clinical trials (the effective protection of a drug is between seven and twelve years, on average). Thus most of the above tablets have a generic counterpart. It is not always recommended to administer generics of lamotrigine as the FDA sees that about ±10% of the active ingredient needs to be present to be a generic. For seizure medications, that difference may be enough to be ineffective – and must be present in its entirety for proper performance.
As with any medication there are side-effects. These include (but not limited to) dizziness, headache, blurred or double vision, lack of coordination, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, tremor, rash, fever, abdominal pain, back pain, tiredness, and dry mouth.
The skin rash can be life threatening, and it is recommended that patients new to taking LAMICTAL® or similar lamotrigine products should start treatment on a low dosage (dependant on the weight of the patient) for one week and increase the number of milligrams in 25 mg. values per two days thereafter. Observations of rashes usually occurred within the first six weeks of lamotrigine treatment.
Most of the above forms of lamotrigine had been formulated over 10 years ago. The patent on prescription medications (approved by the Food and Drug Administration) is valid for 20 years before clinical trials (the effective protection of a drug is between seven and twelve years, on average). Thus most of the above tablets have a generic counterpart. It is not always recommended to administer generics of lamotrigine as the FDA sees that about ±10% of the active ingredient needs to be present to be a generic. For seizure medications, that difference may be enough to be ineffective – and must be present in its entirety for proper performance.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
A Statement of Purpose
Writing is a skill on should have; it provides communication to the community. Unfortunately, there probably isn’t a perfect writer. Actually there is not a perfect person. I never considered myself a writer – maybe even a public speaker. I think I have poor communication skills, then. Blog writing seems to be a website where one may express ideas and opinions freely and casually. Writing is a tool of communication – and by blogging, one can communicate to the blogging world. I feel blogging will be an effective method to express feelings and thoughts. I practice to be descriptive in my work, while attempting to be concise, yet not too sophisticated to confuse readers. A blog provides an environment in which one allows peers and other blog followers to comment (at least I believe, as I am a novice to the blogging world). Comments of peers inform of mistakes, likes, dislikes, and additional writing information that can improve my performance in my communication methods. The three-hundred to four-hundred word count limitation prevents an overflow of pages of writing with unnecessary clutter.
Throughout my blogging experience in English Class, I plan on writing on any multiple of topics. An interesting topic of concern is medicine. In particular, neurology is of interest. Because of a medical movement disorder known as ‘paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia dystonia’ (yeah, that’s a mouthful of Latin and Greek words), I feel the need to be up-to-date on information of the disease (as it is a classified “Rare” Disease) and the medication I a prescribed. LAMICTAL XR is the new medication I am administered – and I am eager to keep researching. I am unsure of the other topics to write about. However, as time progresses - I will continue to build upon this statement of purpose.
Throughout my blogging experience in English Class, I plan on writing on any multiple of topics. An interesting topic of concern is medicine. In particular, neurology is of interest. Because of a medical movement disorder known as ‘paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia dystonia’ (yeah, that’s a mouthful of Latin and Greek words), I feel the need to be up-to-date on information of the disease (as it is a classified “Rare” Disease) and the medication I a prescribed. LAMICTAL XR is the new medication I am administered – and I am eager to keep researching. I am unsure of the other topics to write about. However, as time progresses - I will continue to build upon this statement of purpose.
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